ombudsman

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...

Godolphin's Trawlerman (Golden Horn) is likely to defend his title in the August 21 G2 Lonsdale Cup, according to co-trainer John Gosden. Second to Scandinavia (Justify) in both the G1 Gold Cup at Royal Ascot and in Goodwood's G1 Goodwood Cup--the latter after being impeded by a loose horse--the Group 1 winner has exited his latest effort in good order. "He had an interesting ride around the Sussex Downs - the loose horse clearly interfering and then coming across. But he seems in good order from the race," said Gosden,...

Six-time Group 1 winner Calandagan (Gleneagles) was a notable absentee as 15 horses stood their ground at the latest entry stage for the Juddmonte International at York, with all roads leading back to Tokyo and a Japan Cup defence for the horse named Longines World's Best Racehorse for 2025. An enthralling edition of the Juddmonte International remains in prospect, with outstanding three-year-old Constitution River (Wootton Bassett) and last year's winner Ombudsman (Night Of Thunder) heading the list of remaining contenders, along with Andrew Balding's Item (Frankel), a dual Group 2...

Champion sire Night Of Thunder made yet more headlines on Monday when a nomination to the son of Dubawi sold for €450,000 to an unnamed buyer. The nomination was offered via Darley winning bid, the bespoke online auction platform. Having been crowned Britain and Ireland's leading stallion for the first time in 2025, Night Of Thunder is already the sire of five individual Group 1 winners in 2026, including the unbeaten 2,000 Guineas and St James's Palace Stakes hero Bow Echo. The nomination entitled the successful bidder to breed one...

Ka Ying Rising (Shamexpress) and Ombudsman (Night Of Thunder) are co-leaders of the latest Longines World's Best Racehorse Rankings at 131. The former, currently riding a 20-race winning streak, saw his mark increased from 130 to 131 after a review of his success in the G1 Chairman's Sprint Prize, with the subsequent performances of Satono Reve (Lord Kanaloa), Raging Blizzard (Per Incanto) and Comanche Brave (Wootton Bassett). Godolphin's Ombudsman improved his ranking from 125 to 131 off the back of a four-length victory in the G1 Prince of Wales's Stakes...

Chief executive William Derby is thrilled with the quality of the entries for the Group 1 races staged at York's Ebor Festival in August, with defending champion Ombudsman (Night Of Thunder) and 2024 runner-up Calandagan (Gleneagles) featuring among 30 horses in contention for the £1.5 million Juddmonte International. Trained by John and Thady Gosden, Ombudsman was last seen winning the G1 Prince Of Wales's Stakes at Royal Ascot for the second consecutive year, while Calandagan is set to return to action in Sunday's G1 Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud, having floundered...

Fresh off her stint on the official presenting team at Royal Ascot, Michelle Yu joined this week's TDN Writers' Room presented by Keeneland as the Gainesway Guest of the Week to share why the historic meet belongs at the top of every racing fan's bucket list. For Yu, the absolute peak of the week was Godolphin's Ombudsman (Night Of Thunder) putting on a clinic in Wednesday's G1 Prince of Wales's Stakes, drawing away from Minnie Hauk (Frankel) by a commanding four lengths. Although the nine-furlong race was a 'Win and...

Racing analyst Michelle Yu joins this week's TDN Writers' Room to discuss her experience at Royal Ascot and share a few of the races that impressed her most. Also, Randy Moss and Zoe Cadman look ahead to this weekend's GI Stephen Foster Stakes and recap the GIII Ohio Derby.

Back in the days of the old stand at Ascot, a favourite spot for race-watching was to climb up to the fifth floor above the press box for what felt like a bird's eye view of the action. From this vantage point in the first year of the new century, one of the most memorable Royal Ascot moments was imprinted on an impressionable mind as Dubai Millennium made all to win the Prince of Wales's Stakes, holding Group 1 status for the first time that year. It wasn't just the...

Electric dual G1 Prince Of Wales's Stakes hero Ombudsman (Night Of Thunder) is now the highest-rated Flat horse in Europe with a ranking of 134, according to Timeform. The Godolphin runner dominated Wednesday's Prince Of Wales Stakes by four lengths over multiple Group 1 winner Minnie Hauk (Frankel). John and Thady Gosden's son of Night Of Thunder powered clear of some high-class rivals, including Arc winner Daryz (Sea The Stars), whose rating dropped one pound to 131 pounds. Previously, Ombudsman was rated 130 pounds, but thanks to his Prince Of...

A daughter's wedding day ought to be one of the proudest moments of a father's life, and for James Hanly, the Greek wedding of his daughter Rosanna last year was indeed such an occasion, even if it meant that he missed what may then have felt like the pinnacle of his achievements as a breeder. But sometimes the racing gods are a friendly bunch and, twelve months on, they convened to grant Hanly a second chance, much to the relief of Rosanna. Watching on as Ombudsman was led back in...

A contentious G1 Prince Of Wales's Stakes is in the cards at Royal Ascot next week, as nine horses have stood their ground, among them John and Thady Gosden trainee Ombudsman (Night Of Thunder). Successful in this race last term, the Godolphin colt faces G1 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe hero Daryz (Sea The Stars) and multiple Group 1 scorer Minnie Hauk (Frankel) among others. Ascot's dual G1 British Champions Fillies & Mares Stakes heroine Kalpana (Study Of Man) is back, as is fellow top-level scorer Almaqam (Lope De Vega)....