Ombudsman Delivers the Goods in Champion Stakes

A day that started with group 1 success for Godolphin in Australia ended in the same fashion 10,000 miles away in Berkshire, as Ombudsman (IRE) put the seal of approval on a remarkable Oct. 17 for Sheikh Mohammed's racing operation with a world-class performance in the Champion Stakes (G1) at Ascot Racecourse. Tempted (AUS) set the tone for the day at Randwick Racecourse when defeating the highest-rated horse in the world, Ka Ying Rising (NZ), in The Everest, before Talk of New York (GB) brought Godolphin's party to Britain's royal racecourse in the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes (G1), but the performance of the day surely belonged to Ombudsman. Beaten by 2 1/4 lengths by Calandagan (IRE) in last season's Champion Stakes, Ombudsman turned the tables in emphatic fashion, sprinting away from the six-time group 1 winner to register a 3 1/4-length verdict that left joint-trainer John Gosden hailing the winner as the best mile-and-a-quarter horse to have passed through his hands. "It was a special performance from a special horse," said Gosden, who trains the winner in partnership with his son, Thady. "He was back to what he did in the summer. It didn't work out at York. He spun his wheels and William Buick said he didn't seem to get hold of the track, but he got hold of the track all right today. That was wonderful." Gosden stopped short of anointing Ombudsman as the best he has trained, with the likes of Enable (GB) and Golden Horn (GB) also in that argument, but when it comes to 1 1/4-mile horses Gosden believes he has no peers. "He's definitely the best mile-and-a-quarter horse (I've trained)," the trainer said, "but I don't know if he's the best. We got a little too far back in this race last year, so we thought we're not going to do that again. This time the race went perfectly, William rode him just how he wanted to and he's a top, top-class horse when we get it right." Tantalizingly, Gosden left the door ajar for a possible tilt at the Breeders' Cup Turf (G1T) at Keeneland in two weeks' time with Ombudsman, who had already qualified for the race via a victory in the Prince of Wales's Stakes (G1) June 17 during the Royal Ascot meet. Both the Prince of Wales's and the Champion Stakes are Breeders' Cup Challenge Series: Win and You're In events with an automatic, fees-paid berth for the Turf. Failing that, he will retire as a five-time group 1 winner and a phenomenal stallion prospect for Godolphin and Darley. "Either he'll go to stud or, I will discuss it with His Highness Sheikh Mohammed, and see if he would like to consider putting him in the Breeders' Cup Turf, that's the only other option now. "Golden Horn didn't enjoy it (Keeneland) because it was like a sandpit when he ran and it rained three inches, but this horse, he'd handle it well. He's quick, he's agile, and he could have sat on the lead if he'd wanted to today. He's the right type of horse and I think the track would suit him, so it's a possibility but we don't have to make a rapid decision." There were more superlatives from Buick, no stranger to riding the best of the breed, but adamant Ombudsman could outsprint any of the champions he has ridden. "We saw the real Ombudsman today, and that turn of foot is amazing—explosive," Buick said. "He's the fastest horse I've ridden over 10 furlongs. It's an amazing feeling. He's got such a good racing brain and he races so economically, but when you ask him, he fills up and he's like a coiled spring. You fill him up and off he goes. He's an incredible racehorse and I do feel very privileged to ride a horse of his caliber. He really is amazing. "I could see Calandagan in the corner of my eye, but only very briefly because we left him again. We had a ding-dong last year, and it's one-one now. Two great racehorses, and they produced a great race last year, but it was our turn today." After Fifth Column (IRE)completed a day of days for Godolphin by winning the curtain-closer on Champions day, the organization's United Kingdom and Dubai managing director Hugh Anderson hailed what was being viewed by some onlookers as Godolphin's greatest ever day across the globe. "I'm trying to get my head around the significance of it," Anderson said. "A few people have said it's one of our greatest ever days and it probably is. In terms of prize money, yes, but it's the quality of these group 1s that is so impressive. "I thought Ombudsman and Talk of New York were top class and credit to everyone involved. Ombudsman's turn of foot is something else—he could not have been better today." Bay City Roller (IRE) finished third and Almaqam (GB) was fourth, followed by Constitution River (FR) in fifth, and the longshot Devil's Advocate (GB) sixth and last.