Ombudsman exacted Qatar Racing Champion Stakes revenge on Calandagan to come out on top with a show-stopping performance at Ascot. It was Francis-Henri Graffard's French raider who took home the spoils 12 months ago, but this time around there was a decisive verdict in favour of John and Thady Gosden's home favourite, who obliged as the 5-4 market leader. With the six-strong field heading into the home straight grouped tightly, the stage was set for Ombudsman to demonstrate the blistering turn of foot that has often been a hallmark of his career.
When William Buick asked him to quicken, he scorched past eventual third Bay City Roller before seeing off Calandagan to banish Juddmonte International disappointment and prove he is truly one of the best middle-distance horses on the planet. John Gosden said: "I thought William was riding him very confidently in the straight and I thought, 'when are you going to go?'. He showed that turn of foot.
See the latest horse racing news, interviews and features from Sky Sports Racing "The ground today is on the slow side of good, he can handle that, at York he just spun his wheels, but today it was back to seeing what he is. "We set nice, even fractions - Rab (Havlin) on Devil's Advocate - there was no plan to go fast, slow, pull it up, we talked about that before, solid even fractions. A special performance from a special horse.
"We got a little too far back in this race last year, way back, 10, 11 lengths off it, so we thought we're not going to do that again. "This time the race went perfectly, he rode him just how he wanted to and he's a top-class horse when we get it right. I think we got the tactics a little faulty last year, but don't take anything away from Calandagan, he won well." On whether Ombudsman runs again, Gosden said: "Either he will go to stud or I will discuss with His Highness Sheikh Mohammed if he would like to consider putting him in the Breeders' Cup Turf, that's the only other option now.
Never miss a story with all the latest racing news, interviews and features on your phone. Find out more "Golden Horn didn't enjoy it at Keeneland because it was like a sandpit when he ran and it rained three inches, but this horse, he'd handle it well, he's quick, he's agile, he could have sat on the lead if he'd wanted to today. "He's the right type of horse and I think the track would suit him so it's a possibility; we don't have to make a rapid decision.
"The best mile-and-a-quarter horse (I've trained), definitely. I don't know if he's the best, he's going to stud so I'd better say yes hadn't I because that helps sell the nominations!" Thady Gosden said: "To have a horse of this calibre winning on a day like today is fantastic. "The race at York just didn't pan out for him, it was nobody's fault and we can't control the weather.
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