'He was impressive, very impressive' - William Buick waxes lyrical as Ombudsman wins Prince of Wales's with blistering turn of foot

Patience is often in short supply in a high-pressure industry with big spending and even bigger expectations, but those behind the hugely progressive Ombudsman were handsomely rewarded for theirs when he produced a blistering turn of foot to power clear of Anmaat in the Prince of Wales's Stakes.

William Buick settled Godolphin's four-year-old at the rear of the field in a fiercely run contest, with the early fractions set by the Ballydoyle pair of Continuous and the favourite Los Angeles, and it looked as though he might not get a clear passage, blocked by a wall of runners in the straight.

However, his jockey was more than happy to bide his time, aware of the raw speed his partner possesses, and when the gap appeared, Ombudsman responded in an instant before coming home in a remarkable flash of royal blue to win going away with the tantalising promise of more to come.

"He'd have been a very unlucky loser, wouldn't he?" said Buick. "I was looking for room and had to switch him a couple of times, but he won with a bit in hand.

"He was stepping up in grade and I was impressed with what he did there. He picked up instantly when I had to switch his course.

"They went a hard gallop and we had to ride for a bit of luck. I had to look for a couple of gaps, but he's got such a great turn of foot. He was the unknown quantity in the race and I thought he was impressive, very impressive. I think for the moment he's a fast mile-and-a-quarter horse.

"I'm sure stepping him up to a mile and a half will be spoken about, but I wouldn't have thought that discussion would need to be had just yet. He's a cool, talented horse and I think that was just a taste of what's to come, for sure. He's still got very few miles on the clock and he's exciting."

Ombudsman storms to success in the Prince Of Wales's Stakes

Ombudsman (William Buick) wins the Prince of Wales's StakesCredit: Edward Whitaker

Buick is by now all too familiar with the fickle nature of elite sport, but there was still a sense this was a welcome victory after a challenging start to the week with defeats for the likes of Ruling Court and Notable Speech.

"This place tames lions," he added. "It's so special to win here because it's so tough."

Ombudsman was certainly stepping into the lion's den on his first start at the highest level. The son of Night Of Thunder was unraced at two but more than made up for lost time last season, winning all four starts including a Group 3 before losing his unbeaten record in last month's Brigadier Gerard.

It has not been a conventional journey to the top but, much like Buick having to wait for the perfect moment to strike, it is one characterised by patience. "I think it's all down to the owner," said joint-trainer John Gosden, who was presented with a saddle cloth after recording his 70th Royal Ascot winner.

"When we bought him with Anthony Stroud I said 'he's immature, give me a chance with him' and he told me to take as long as you like. He didn't race at two but at three we brought him out. Now he's fully grown and developed, and because Sheikh Mohammed has been patient he's been rewarded."

Many of those packed into a sweltering winner's enclosure were impatient to learn where we might see Ombudsman next, just as they had been after stablemate Field Of Gold scored on the opening day. He was cut to 4-1 second favourite (from 16) for next month's Coral-Eclipse by the sponsors.

"We've just won the Prince of Wales's and you want to talk about the future," joked Gosden, when asked by ITV Racing's Rishi Persad.

"William said he's got a lot of speed and I told him, 'Don't tell me I've got to bring him back to six furlongs'. He's got a wonderful turn of foot and I think play to that strength.

"As far as I’m concerned he’s done nothing but grow in stature. When the horse was being saddled he was playing, looking forward to it and I think we had him spot-on today. He's a horse who, because he hasn’t overraced this year, you could be looking at the Eclipse with."

Coral-Eclipse (Sandown, July 5)
Coral: 5-2 Sosie, 4 Ombudsman, Camille Pissarro, 6 Calandagan, 8 Gezora, 10 Economics, Anmaat, 12 Almaqam, 14 bar.

Ombudsman matches best display in a decade

Ombudsman's impressive success in Wednesday’s Prince of Wales's Stakes looks worthy of a figure that ranks up with the best witnessed in the race in the last ten years, with a provisional Racing Post Rating of 129 matching that of 2019 joint-champion horse Crystal Ocean.

With Anmaat giving See The Fire a similar beating to last year's Champion Stakes, the form looks sound among the first three, despite favourite Los Angeles performing below par having chased the solid pace.

Conditions were considerably slicker than Anmaat enjoyed for his surprise win last October, but he is a three-time winner on fast ground and looks to have run every bit as well here.

Building on the abundant promise of his reappearance in the Brigadier Gerard Stakes last month, Ombudsman has improved his figures with virtually every run since making a winning debut a little under a year ago. Having overcome trouble in running here this latest step forward could yet be upgraded further, subject to proper pace analysis.

While younger stablemate Field Of Gold would have the edge in receipt of weight for age, this looks a performance that will take some topping among the older horses. An RPR of 129 would see Ombudsman move to the head of this year's rankings for middle distances worldwide, ahead of Coronation Cup winner Jan Brueghel on 126.
Paul Curtis

Prince of Wales’s winners by Racing Post Rating

2025 Ombudsman 129
2024 Auguste Rodin 125
2023 Mostahdaf 128
2022 State Of Rest
2021 Love 122*
2020 Lord North 126
2019 Crystal Ocean 129
2018 Poet's Word 128
2017 Highland Reel 123
2016 My Dream Boat 122