Ombudsman stamps his class on Dubai Turf field Ombudsman delivered a spellbinding performance to make a winning return in the Dubai Turf at Meydan. John and Thady Gosden’s son of Night Of Thunder was one of the stars of 2024, landing the Prince of Wales’s Stakes at Royal Ascot before adding the Juddmonte International in a season where he also finished runner-up in the Eclipse and Champion Stakes. Kept in training by Godolphin, this race was picked out by Sheikh Mohammed as the ideal starting point, a race the Clarehaven training team of course have won three times in the past with Lord North since 2021. William Buick was in no rush in the saddle in the early stages but cruised stylishly into contention rounding the bend for home. Once Buick unleashed an inch of rein the response was deadly as Ombudsman stormed to the front and carried on galloping to lay down an early statement for the season ahead. In an all-British one-two it was Simon and Ed Crisford’s Quddwah that filled the runner-up spot, but he was ultimately no match for the two-length winner. John Gosden said: “I was delighted with him in every way and he’s a big and strong horse, he’s five now and fully matured. “I liked that he was fresh but didn’t pull and William said he listened and settled and they did the usual thing of going quick then pulling it up on the bend. William crept close and I think where he was correct was by staying wide and giving away ground because when they straightened up he had a clear run.” Paddy Power handed Ombudsman a quote of 25-1 for the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe, but for the time being Royal Ascot is a possible next port of call. Gosden added: “He was probably 90 per cent today and I think it is one where the race will tighten him and bring him on, but there is a bit of a gap now before Royal Ascot because they don’t put a lot of these races on. “He’s come here off a long winter but we’ve been very happy with his training. I think you are looking Prince of Wales’s Stakes again and the Eclipse, Juddmonte International, those are the obvious big summer races. “But William was hinting if you did want to go further at the end of the year, over a mile and a half, you could. I did talk about a Japan Cup last year but if you remember a certain horse called Calandagan was going for it, that old gelding, and I thought we might stay away from him. “I’m sure he will go to stud at the end of the year so let’s be bold with him and Sheikh Mohammed is keen to take things on.” Buick was keen to heap praise on Ombudsman’s training team after securing his first victory in the Dubai Turf. He said: “Ombudsman showed there on his first run of the season just what he can do. It was a very competitive field and some of the runners have already had runs this winter and I was very pleased with him. “It was how we hoped it would happen, it was very smooth and he’s hopefully got an exciting year ahead. “He was exactly how I hoped he would be and credit to John and Thady who have had him in impeccable shape all winter and he’s never missed a beat. He’s been on target every step of the way and I’ve been involved riding him in some of his work as well, so a huge credit to them. “He shipped over in great shape and when I rode him on Thursday morning we all knew he was in business.”
