Ombudsman Was a Machine at Ascot and Exacted Revenge on Calandagan
The formidable Godolphin horse won the Champion Stakes (G1) by nearly four lengths, displaying an extraordinary turn of foot that left the defending champion with no answer. John Gosden considers him the finest 2000-meter performer he has ever trained and does not rule out sending him to the Breeders' Cup
ASCOT, England (Special for Turf Diario).— Ombudsman had a score to settle with Calandagan (Gleneagles) and settled it in spectacular fashion. One year after finishing second behind the Aga Khan representative in the Champion Stakes (G1), the Godolphin star reversed the result with a devastating performance, prevailing by nearly four lengths in the 2000-meter feature of British Champions Day.
Sent off as the 5-4 favorite under William Buick, the horse trained by John and Thady Gosden left a formidable impression, particularly through the explosive change of gear he displayed when his jockey asked for the winning effort.
Calandagan, who returned to Ascot aiming to defend his 2025 crown, had to settle for second, while Bay City Roller(New Bay), recently runner-up in the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe (G1), finished third, another 1 3/4 lengths back.
The result represented far more than simple revenge. Ombudsman was coming off a fourth-place finish in the Juddmonte International Stakes (G1) at York, a performance that had raised questions about his form, but at Ascothe reasserted his true quality.
The race unfolded with Devil's Advocate (Too Darn Hot) establishing an even tempo, exactly as planned by the Gosden team, while Bay City Roller stalked near the leaders.
Ombudsman enjoyed an ideal trip throughout, positioned close to the pace without expending unnecessary energy. Calandagan, by contrast, settled further back and was forced to make his challenge wide around the turn.
As they turned into the straight, the two major market choices set out to decide the contest. Yet what promised to be another thrilling duel was resolved with surprising ease.
Buick bided his time until finding the proper gap, and when he let Ombudsman loose, the colt unleashed an astounding turn of foot, quickly establishing an advantage that Calandagan was powerless to bridge.
Gosden: “He Is the Best 2000-Meter Horse I Have Trained”
John Gosden made no attempt to hide his admiration for the winner, placing him above all previous middle-distance stars to pass through his stable.
“Ombudsman is definitely the best ten-furlong horse I have ever trained. I don't know if he is the best overall, but over a mile and a quarter, I have no doubt,” he stated.
The trainer explained that the tactics differed significantly from last year's renewal, when the horse was left with too much ground to make up: “Last year we were 10 or 11 lengths off the pace, which made things very difficult. This time we didn't want to repeat that mistake. William rode him exactly as we planned, and everything worked out perfectly,” he noted.
He also praised the work of Robert Havlin, who guided Devil's Advocate to ensure a genuine, steady pace.
“We didn't want to go too fast or too slow. We wanted even fractions, and that is what we got,” he explained.
Gosden added that track conditions suited the winner: “At York he couldn't get proper footing, but today we saw the real Ombudsman again. The ground was slightly softer than good, and he handled it perfectly. It was a special performance from a special horse.”
The conditioner recalled that the Godolphin colorbearer had previously secured two major victories at Ascot, becoming the first horse in 31 years to win back-to-back editions of the Prince of Wales's Stakes (G1).
He now boasts three victories on the course, confirming his extraordinary affinity for the layout.
Buick: “The Fastest Horse I Have Ridden over 2000 Meters”
William Buick was equally awestruck by the victory: “He is the fastest horse I have ever ridden over a mile and a quarter. His acceleration is explosive. It's an incredible feeling,” he asserted.
The jockey highlighted the winner's efficiency during the running: “He races so economically, wasting nothing. But when you ask him for the effort, he responds like a spring. He is an extraordinary horse and I feel privileged to ride him.”
Buick admitted noticing Calandagan making his bid on the outside, though only momentarily.
“I saw him out of the corner of my eye, but we quickly drew away again. Last year we had a great battle, and now we are one-and-one. They are two magnificent horses, but today it was our turn,” he commented.
The Breeders' Cup Turf, a Concrete Possibility
Ombudsman's immediate future remains to be finalized. Gosden explained that two options are under consideration: retiring him to stud or targeting one final target in the Breeders' Cup Turf (G1) at Keeneland.
“I will speak with Sheikh Mohammed to see if he wants to consider that option. It would be the only race we could target before he heads to stud,” he noted.
The trainer believes the colt's traits would suit North American racing well.
“He is quick, agile, and could have raced on the lead today if we wanted to. I think Keeneland would suit him very well,” he explained.
Gosden recalled that Golden Horn (Cape Cross) encountered adverse conditions when racing there due to heavy rains that made the course bottomless.
However, he feels Ombudsman possesses the versatility to handle the challenge: “We don't need to make an immediate decision,” he clarified.
Calandagan Could Seek Revenge in Japan
On the losing side, Francis-Henri Graffard accepted Calandagan's defeat while crediting the winner's dominance.
“He broke a bit slowly and took time to find his rhythm. He tracked Ombudsman well after that, but around the final bend we had to circle wide around other runners,” he explained.
The trainer noted that his charge responded when called upon, though he could not match the winner's acceleration.
“My horse made a very good effort, but Ombudsman accelerated with tremendous power. He is a true champion with extraordinary engine. There is no shame in finishing second to a horse like him,” he stated.
Graffard confirmed that the plan remains to travel to Japan for the Japan Cup (G1). “That has been our goal. If he recovers well from this race, we hope to head back to Japan and deliver another strong effort,” he added.
There was also satisfaction in the Bay City Roller camp, completing the trifecta just thirteen days after competing in the Arc.
“It was a huge effort. He came out of his recent races in great shape, traveled beautifully, and kept fighting even after the top two passed him,” highlighted jockey Oisin Murphy.
Yet all eyes were on Ombudsman.
The Godolphin star did not merely defeat his great rival; he did so with an authority that will be hard to forget. After a year of waiting, he found at Ascot the perfect stage to reclaim the spotlight and prove that over 2000 meters, his blend of speed, tactical intellect, and explosive acceleration remains unmatched.
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