Ombudsman and Delacroix Set for Showdown in Star-Studded Juddmonte International
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YORKSHIRE, Inglaterra (Special for Turf Diario).- The Ebor Festival begins this Wednesday at York, and, as always, the curtain-raiser is a major event: the G1 Juddmonte International Stakes, the 10-furlong showpiece that attracts Europe’s elite. This year, the race once again offers a Win and You’re In berth to the Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1).
Only six will go to post, but the quality is exceptional, highlighted by the highly anticipated clash between Ombudsman (Night of Thunder) and Delacroix (Dubawi). Representing Godolphin, Ombudsman arrives off a dominant win in the G1 Prince of Wales’s Stakes at Royal Ascot, where he overwhelmed his rivals in style and secured a place in the Breeders’ Cup Turf (G1). Trained by John and Thady Gosden, he displayed both power and a sharp turn of foot, signaling he is at the peak of his campaign.
Yet in his path stands Delacroix, Aidan O’Brien’s charge who captured the G1 Coral-Eclipse Stakes at Sandown in July, defeating Ombudsman in a race marked by a tricky pace scenario. Determined not to leave anything to chance, Godolphin supplemented Birr Castle (Cloth of Stars) for £85,000, the dual listed stakes winner trained by André Fabre, who will likely serve as the pace-setter.
The Gosden–O’Brien rivalry has history and promises another thrilling chapter. O’Brien is chasing his eighth International victory, having won the 2023 edition with City of Troy (Justify), while Gosden aims to return to the top with a horse already earmarked as a centerpiece for the second half of the European season.
International flavor comes from Danon Decile (Epiphaneia), the Japanese champion who recently captured the Dubai Sheema Classic (G1) at Meydan, defeating none other than Calandagan (Gleneagles), the subsequent King George winner. With over £5 million in earnings and Keita Tosaki aboard, he is a formidable contender and currently the third choice in the betting.
Don’t overlook Daryz (Sea the Stars), the unbeaten 3-year-old of the Aga Khan and trainer Francis-Henri Graffard, who has won four in a row this year, including the G2 Prix Eugene Adam at Saint-Cloud. Making up for a lack of 2-year-old experience, the colt—ridden by Mickael Barzalona—has a massive upside and could spring a surprise.
The lone filly in the field is See The Fire (Sea the Stars), owned by Jeff Smith and trained by Andrew Balding, with a strong York record: she won the G3 Middleton Fillies’ Stakes by 12 lengths in May and captured the G3 Strensall Stakes here in 2023. However, she finished four lengths behind Ombudsman at Royal Ascot, meaning a substantial improvement is needed to compete at the highest level.
Saturday’s card also features the G3 Tattersalls Acomb Stakes for juveniles, a direct qualifier for the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf (G1). The favorite will be Distant Storm, another Godolphin prospect by Night of Thunder, purchased for €1.9 million in a breeze-up and impressive on debut at Newmarket. His main rivals include Italy (Wootton Bassett), O’Brien’s contender, and the promising Goodwood Galaxy (Kodi Bear) of David Menuisier.
