Royal Ascot: Ombudsman throws down gauntlet to Field Of Gold by winning £1m race

Father and son trainers John and Thady Gosden have an embarrassment of riches in their stable. The duo has been ’s in-form operation over the first two days of the meeting, bagging two victories on Tuesday.

The highlight of their double was the success of Field Of Gold, who demolished a field comprising French 2,000 Guineas winner Henri Matisse and 2,000 Guineas winner Ruling Court when recording an emphatic victory in the St James’s Palace Stakes. Day two has continued in similar fashion with Crimson Advocate landing the Duke of Cambridge Stakes.

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The following race was the Prince of Wales’s Stakes, worth £1 million, for which the hot favourite was the Aidan O’Brien-trained Los Angeles.

The O’Brien team tried to expose the stamina of their rivals by setting a hot pace but they paid for their efforts, weakening in the straight to leave Ombudsman to produce a devastating turn of foot to overtake Anmaat and score by two lengths, delivering Gosden senior his 70th Royal Ascot win.

Jockey William Buick, who had endured a winless first two days in Godolphin colours, punched the air in celebration.

“This place tames lions,” said Buick. “It’s so special to win because it’s so tough.

“Ombudsman was stepping up in grade today. He would have been a very unlucky loser. I was looking for room and I had to switch him a couple of times and he’s won with a bit in hand. I was very impressed. He picked up instantly.”

The winner was cut to 4-1 second favourite for the Coral-Eclipse Stakes, from 16-1 by the sponsor, and could appear at Sandown next month.

John Gosden said: “When we bought him I said ‘He’s an immature horse, give me a chance with him’. He didn’t race as a two-year-old.

“Now he’s fully grown and developed, and because Sheikh Mohammed has been very patient he’s been rewarded. He is a mile and a quarter horse.

“We did have him absolutely au point today. He is a horse that because he hasn’t over-raced he is a horse you could look at the Eclipse.”

Asked if he could envisage Ombudsman meeting Field Of Gold in the Juddmonte International in August, Gosden replied, “That wouldn’t be my choice.”