It's all about Ombudsman in Prince Of Wales's
The money spoke for Ombudsman (Ire) (Night Of Thunder {Ire}) ahead of Wednesday's G1 Prince of Wales's Stakes and by the line the 11-10 odds were looking generous as the Godolphin kingpin romped to glory.
Becoming the first to win more than one of this Royal Ascot feature since it was turned into an elite contest, the market-leader turned what had been long touted as a match with Daryz (Fr) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) into a one-sided affair with a four-length success. Last year's Arc winner failed to see off the Arc runner-up Minnie Hauk (Ire)(Frankel {GB}) for second, losing out by 1 3/4 lengths to the filly.
“It is quite something to come away from a field like that,” Gosden Sr added. “He's got a phenomenal turn of foot, great acceleration for a mile-and-a-quarter horse. He just showed that class. I thought it was one of the great performances of his career.”
Buick had the joy of the steering job and added, “I was really impressed with him today–he had been faultless going to Meydan and beyond and so there was a great deal of expectation, but I don't think you can ever expect a performance quite like that,” he said. “We had great respect for Daryz, of course, Minnie Hauk was so good last year and Almaqam was good in the Tattersalls Gold Cup, but we know what Ombudsman can do. He was exceptional today and I was pleasantly surprised how good he was, but he's probably now the finished article.”
This is a Breeders' Cup Win and You're In for the Turf, but Gosden was not committing to any long-term targets beyond the summer. “There's the Eclipse and the Juddmonte International will be a major target, of course, as he likes York,” he said.
“We always watch them for the next week to ten days and they tell you.”
Victorious gives Aidan his 99th winner at Royal Ascot
Aidan O'Brien had not won the G2 Queen Mary Stakes until subsequent G1 1000 Guineas heroine True Love (Ire) (No Nay Never) prevailed last year and the Ballydoyle maestro edged closer to a century of Royal Ascot winners when TDN Rising Star Victorious (Ire) (Wootton Bassett {GB}), who is blind in one eye, produced a telling burst in the closing stages of the five-furlong contest to provide the trainer with a 99th Royal winner.
“She's incredible, we knew she was very classy and we've always felt that she'd be very good,” O'Brien said. “She is a filly with one eye so she's always lacked a bit of confidence, but she's been coming along lovely. Going back to five [furlongs] in this type of race, sometimes you can get lost, but it was lovely how Ryan got her racing in a small group. She doesn't have any sight in her left eye, so he slowly got her out and reassured her all the time."
Moore added, “She is a gorgeous filly and I think the world of her. She is just a sweetheart and has always shown plenty. She is so straightforward and the complete professional.”
The G3 Naas Fillies Sprint winner was settled in rear through the early fractions as Stateside challenger Ruiva (USA) (Munnings {USA) assisted in setting a strong tempo up front. With Moore sitting unflustered through halfway, the 10-3 favourite was stirred into action soon after passing the quarter-mile marker and went through an array of gears to thunder past Senorita Bonita (Ire) (Starspangledbanner) inside the final furlong for an impressive two-length success.
Senorita Bonita had to contend with the rallying Ruiva in the closing stages and claimed second by a pixel.
Joseph O'Brien wins the G2 Queen's Vase with Limestone
Continuing the purple patch of Joseph O'Brien and Dylan Browne McMonagle, the progressive Limestone (Ire) (New Bay {GB}) edged the photo at the end of Wednesday's G2 Queen's Vase at Royal Ascot.
One for the St Leger candidates, the mile-and-three-quarter contest lacked a clear-cut candidate this year and it was only in the dying strides that the colt who races for Valmont, Al Shaqab and Ballylinch Stud put his name on the honour roll ahead of Godolphin's Del Maro (Ger) (Camelot {GB}).
The official margin was a nose, with the long-time leader and outsider Ranga Tang (GB) (Lope De Vega {Ire}) only beaten a length in third at 40-1.
“They caught me for pace off the bend, but I knew he'd come home strong in the last furlong,” the jockey said of 100-30 second favourite, who had taken the same Yeats Stakes last month as had last year's Queen's Vase winner Carmers. “He's very tough and we were confident he'd get the trip. The sky's the limit.”
Juddmonte yearling purchase dominates the G2 Duke Of Cambridge
Last term's G1 Sun Chariot Stakes runner-up Blue Bolt (Ire) (Blue Point {Ire}), a rare Juddmonte purchase, is back on the path into elite-level company after breaking Andrew Balding's duck at this year's Royal Ascot meeting with a dominant performance in the latter stages of Wednesday's G2 Duke Of Cambridge Stakes.
“She had a lovely first run back at Goodwood and she was cherry ripe today,” commented Colin Keane after partnering his fourth Royal winner. “She came a long way in a short space of time last year, she likes good ground and I think a mile is a good fit for her.”
Last month's Listed Conqueror Stakes victrix employed patient tactics from flagfall and settled off the pace in sixth through halfway. Making eyecatching progress on the bridle once into the home straight, the 5-2 favourite swooped for control approaching the final furlong and was driven out in the closing stages to defeat Jancis (Ire) (Tamayuz {GB}) by 1 3/4 lengths.
The John and Thady Gosden-trained 2024 G1 Prix de l'Opera heroine Friendly Soul (GB) (Kingman {GB}) raced in rear for the most part and came home strongly to finish a half-length further adrift in third.
St Mark's Basilica colt wins Listed Windsor Castle Stakes
Two-race maiden King Of Cloughan (Ire) (St Mark's Basilica {Fr}) was, at odds of 33-1, the outsider of Joseph O'Brien's three runners and he paid a handsome compliment to his Leopardstown conqueror and TDN Rising Star Nola Soul (USA) (Justify {USA}), a Listed Chesham Stakes contender, with a taking performance in Wednesday's new-look Listed Windsor Castle Stakes at Royal Ascot.
“He relaxed and found a beautiful rhythm,” said jockey Billy Loughnane. “I had a dream passage through and he made my job easy. Joseph O'Brien is a genius.”
Positioned deep under cover in midfield for most of the six-furlong contest, the eventual winner was halted in his run when cruising into contention approaching the final furlong and, once switched into the open, thundered home to usurp 66-1 chance Moonrise (Ire) (Churchill {Ire}) by a half-length.
