Patience is often in short supply in a high-pressure industry with big spending and even bigger expectations, but those behind the hugely progressive Ombudsman were handsomely rewarded for theirs when he produced a blistering turn of foot to power clear of Anmaat in the June 18 Prince of Wales's Stakes (G1) at Royal Ascot.
William Buick settled Godolphin's 4-year-old at the rear of the field in a fiercely run contest, with the early fractions set by the Aidan O'Brien-trained pair of Continuous and favored Los Angeles, and it looked as though he might not get a clear passage, blocked by a wall of runners in the straight.
However, his jockey was more than happy to bide his time, aware of the raw speed his partner possesses, and when the gap appeared, Ombudsman responded in an instant before coming home in a remarkable flash of royal blue to win going away with the tantalizing promise of more to come.
"He'd have been a very unlucky loser, wouldn't he?" Buick said. "I was looking for room and had to switch him a couple of times, but he won with a bit in hand."
Buick is by now all too familiar with the fickle nature of elite sport, but there was still a sense this was a welcome victory after a challenging start to the week with defeats for the likes of Ruling Court and Notable Speech.
"This place tames lions," he added. "It's so special to win here because it's so tough."
Ombudsman was certainly stepping into the lion's den on his first start at the highest level. Godolphin's son of Night of Thunder was unraced at 2 but more than made up for lost time last season, winning all four starts, including a group 3, before losing his unbeaten record when second in last month's Brigadier Gerard Stakes (G3).
It has not been a conventional journey to the top but, much like Buick having to wait for the perfect moment to strike, it is one characterized by patience.
"I think it's all down to the owner," said joint-trainer John Gosden, who was presented with a saddle cloth after recording his 70th Royal Ascot winner.
"When we bought him with Anthony Stroud, I said 'He's immature, give me a chance with him,' and he told me to take as long as you like. He didn't race at 2 but at 3 we brought him out. Now he's fully grown and developed, and because Sheikh Mohammed has been patient, he's been rewarded."
Many of those packed into a sweltering winner's enclosure were impatient to learn where we might see Ombudsman next. He was cut to 4-1 second favorite for next month's Coral-Eclipse (G1) by the sponsors.
"We've just won the Prince of Wales's and you want to talk about the future," Gosden joked when asked by ITV Racing's Rishi Persad.
Anmaat finished second in the Prince of Wales's Stakes and See The Fire was third. Los Angeles checked in fifth.
The Prince of Wales's Stakes served as part of the Breeders' Cup Challenge Series: Win and You're In, providing Ombudsman with paid, automatic entry into the Breeders' Cup Turf (G1T) Nov. 1 at Del Mar.
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