Ombudsman has Ascot in his sights after bypassing Irish Champion date

Godolphin are putting their faith in “master trainer” John Gosden to pull off an exciting autumn schedule with Ombudsman after the handler ruled this year’s star performer out of a third clash with Delacroix in the Irish Champion Stakes.

The son of Night Of Thunder, who Gosden trains in partnership with son Thady, reversed an agonising defeat in the Coral-Eclipse to level the score with Aidan O’Brien’s leading colt in tremendous fashion in the Juddmonte International Stakes at York.

That was the Clarehaven inmate’s second big victory of the season after success in the Prince of Wales’s Stakes at Royal Ascot, but he will miss another rematch at Leopardstown after his training team elected to freshen up their star performer ahead of important dates later in the season.

“I spoke to John this (Wednesday) morning and he’s a master trainer and I think the plan he has set out is very much similar to what he had in mind after the win in the Juddmonte International,” Godolphin’s managing director Hugh Anderson told the PA news agency.

“There is no man better able at setting out a challenging campaign for a fabulous racehorse than John and we look forward to hopefully some good results in the autumn.

“He’s been a star this year and Ombudsman and (Kentucky Derby winner) Sovereignty are out of the real top-drawer. Godolphin have had some good horses down the years but to have these two in the same year is really excellent.”

With a trip to Ireland off the table and a tilt at the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe already ruled out, a return to the scene of his summer high for Ascot’s Qipco Champion Stakes on October 18 now looks the obvious next port of call.

That could bring tantalising trips abroad for both the Breeders’ Cup and Japan Cup into play, with Anderson full of praise for the Gosdens’ excellent management of Ombudsman’s career to date which has yielded six victories from eight starts and those all important Group One triumphs at 10 furlongs.

“I’m not sure if we will be able to get all three of those races in, but those races are certainly what John has in mind,” continued Anderson.

“It’s a classic example of where a trainer will need to watch the weather, watch his horse and work out the best options.

“But what I will say about Ombudsman is the way he has been trained over his career is very much to John and Thady’s credit, with the watchword being patience and that has delivered fantastic results.

“He didn’t race at two and then was very lightly raced at three and he’s hit these huge highs at four. So whatever John thinks is best for him is going to prove to be good for Godolphin.”