William Buick rode Ombudsman to a decisive victory in the Prince of Wales's Stakes at Royal Ascot on Wednesday, leaving no room for doubt about the outcome. The 11-10 favorite surged down the outside to defeat Minnie Hauk, last season's Oaks winner, and Daryz, the Arc winner, by four lengths. Buick used only hands and heels through the final furlong as Ombudsman opened up a commanding lead.
Race Analysis
For a brief moment at the top of the straight, pacemakers seemed poised to spark post-race debate for the second consecutive day. Mississippi River and Devil's Advocate, front-runners for Minnie Hauk and Ombudsman respectively, built a long lead by halfway. While Mississippi River faded turning in, Devil's Advocate still held a healthy lead at the two-furlong pole. However, a furlong later, Ombudsman was in front and pulling away, repeating his win in this race from 12 months ago.
Trainer John Gosden praised Ombudsman's performance: "Devil's Advocate, a furlong and a half to go, I thought they have to get to him, but this horse has got a phenomenal turn of foot, great acceleration for a mile-and-a-quarter horse. He just showed that class. It's quite something to come away from the field like that. The filly [Minnie Hauk] ran great, the Arc winner [Daryz] ran great. Probably [Almaqam] might not have run his race, but overall, it was one of the great performances of his career."
Future Plans
The Eclipse Stakes at Sandown in early July is the next 10-furlong Group One, but Ombudsman may wait instead for the Juddmonte International Stakes at York in mid-August. "We'll watch him for the next week or 10 days, and the horse will tell you," Gosden said. "You just watch, you know their habits, when they're 100% and when they're a little quiet. The Juddmonte International would be the major target, of course. He likes York."
Aidan O'Brien was pleased with Minnie Hauk's bounce-back from a lackluster showing at the Curragh in May. "We thought what happened the last day was that she's really a mile-and-a-half filly," O'Brien said. "Over a mile-and-a-quarter, she wanted an end-to-end gallop. Obviously, that was going to suit the winner as well. Ryan [Moore] said she kept travelling from the three to the two, while the winner had a little bit more speed than her over a mile and a quarter. The lads will decide what they want to do, but I'd say something like the King George [at Ascot], one more run, and then the Arc."
Daryz has now been beaten on both starts outside France. Trainer Francis-Henri Graffard explained: "They had these two pacemakers that went forward quite clear, and my horse was not covered. He never really relaxed and had a chance to take a breath. I don't think he relaxed through the race; he was out of his rhythm all the time, and that's why he shortened up his action at the end. We didn't see the Daryz of Longchamp."
O'Brien's 99th Royal Ascot Winner
Earlier on Wednesday, O'Brien opened the card with his 99th winner at the Royal meeting as Victorious powered to an easy success in the five-furlong Queen Mary Stakes. It was O'Brien's second successive Queen Mary winner, following True Love last year. Victorious was initially cut to 16-1 (from 33-1) for next year's 1,000 Guineas by Paddy Power, then further trimmed to 12-1.
Victorious's success also hinted at the chance of O'Brien's Sun Goddess in the Albany Stakes on Friday. "Victorious is very classy," O'Brien said. "She only has sight in one eye, so we were a little worried about where she was drawn, but Ryan [Moore] was brilliant on her. He reassured her and let her find her way through. He got a little group to follow and then took her to the outside. We had her and the filly that's in the Albany, and we tried to split them. Everyone thought this filly might be okay over five furlongs, but she is ideally suited by six and even further."
Other Races
Point Of Law, the second runner of the week in the King & Queen's colours, fared better than Reaching High, who was last in the Ascot Stakes on Tuesday, but could finish no better than fourth behind Limestone in the Queen's Vase. The next outing for the scarlet and purple silks will be aboard Golden Orbit in the Group Two Ribblesdale Stakes on Thursday.
Gold Cup Preview
Trawlerman, last year's Gold Cup winner, defends his crown against a strong squad of progressive four-year-old stayers on Thursday. Carmers, a winner at the meeting last year, is an interesting each-way contender at around 20-1. Trawlerman is a dual Group One winner at Ascot, but the market sees Scandinavia as his sternest opponent. However, Carmers beat both Rahiebb and Scandinavia in the Queen's Vase last June and was a comfortable winner on his first start at two miles last month.
Thursday Tips
Royal Ascot 2.30: Sea Venture was a decisive winner on debut at Haydock despite traffic problems and should improve for the step up in trip.
Royal Ascot 3.05: Owen Burrows's Heyzoom may have been underestimated by the handicapper on an opening mark of 85, as his Newbury maiden has produced four next-time winners.
Royal Ascot 3.40: Earth Shot, runner-up to the subsequent third in the French Oaks at Goodwood, is an attractive alternative at around 5-1.
Royal Ascot 4.15: Carmers (nap) is an each-way contender to spring an upset.
Royal Ascot 4.50: David Marnane's Jamestown, from stall 25, is perhaps the pick of the prices after a dominant success last time.
Royal Ascot 5.35: Generic was making only his third start when seven lengths behind the subsequent French Derby winner, Constitution River, and the form is backed by a strong timefigure.
Royal Ascot 6.10: Blue Brother is an intriguing contender at around 10-1, having been fancied for last year's Hunt Cup but with no luck in running.
Other meetings: Yarmouth, Ripon, Lingfield, Southwell.
