'Just What We Needed': Ombudsman Has Key York Prep On July Course

As the prolonged dry spell continues across much of England, Ombudsman had a spin on the grass on Friday morning for the first time since his four-length victory in the Prince of Wales's Stakes at Royal Ascot.

Ridden by his daily partner Gary Forster, the five-year-old son of Night Of Thunder worked over just less than a mile of Newmarket's July Course in company with Devil's Advocate (Too Darn Hot) and Rob Havlin as he prepares to repeat last year's success in the Juddmonte International Stakes on August 19.

“This is just what we needed as there's no chance of getting on it anywhere else right now,” said the duo's co-trainer John Gosden.

“[Ombudsman] had a normal, solid piece of work which is just what we wanted before York. He's a pro now and doesn't want to do anything flashy, not that we wanted it.”

Godolphin's Ombudsman is likely to face the Aidan O'Brien-trained Prix du Jockey Club and Eclipse Stakes winner Constitution River (Wootton Bassett) on the Knavesmire as well as Juddmonte's recent G2 York Stakes winner Item (Frankel). Diamond Necklace (St Mark's Basilica) and Almaqam (Lope De Vega) are also among the entries for the £1.5m contest, while the Aga Khan Studs' Zaydann (Dubawi) is the sole potential runner from outside Britain and Ireland.

Ombudsman and Gary Forster | Emma Berry

Gosden confirmed that he would be running a pacemaker, which is likely to be Ombudsman's work-mate Devil's Advocate.  He said, “You've got an exceptional three-year-old in there, as well as ourselves, but don't forget the others in the race. People often concentrate on two horses and ignore everyone else.

“We'll have one pacemaker in there and I'm sure Aidan will. I expect a really truly run race. The race was a bit of a muddle last year as the effective pacemaker was ridden by a Japanese jockey [Keita Tosaki on Danon Decile] who had never ridden at York before. Rab [Havlin] was ignored on Birr Castle, who went a good pace and still finished third.

“I don't see them letting pacemakers go 25 lengths in front. Our fellow picked up well and went away from them last year but I would imagine it would be a more conventional race this time. The pacemakers did a good job at Ascot last time and they didn't get in anyone's way, which is how it should be.”

Of later-season targets for Ombudsman, Gosden added, “If you think of his programme this year, he was in full training in the winter to run in Dubai in March and, as it was the 40th anniversary of the Dubai World Cup, it was important he was there.

“We let him down then back up for the Group 3 [Brigadier Gerard] at Sandown, where he wasn't fully tuned up. He's then gone to Royal Ascot, following which we have let down again with the autumn in mind, which is why we missed the Eclipse.

“We'll see how we are but he'll have the Champion Stakes and Breeders' Cup to consider for his autumn programme.”