The Prince of Wales’s Stakes 12 months ago was the race where Ombudsman staked his claim to a position within the elite of the 10-furlong division. His performance in winning the 2026 edition, leaving the 2025 Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe winner and runner-up trailing in his wake, was arguably better and it’ll take a good performance at this trip to lower his colours over the remainder of the season.
The race featured two pacemakers, one from Ombudsman’s trainer John Gosden and one from Aidan O’Brien who was seeking a strong test for his filly Minnie Hauk.
From the off it appeared that Ryan Moore on Minnie Hauk was going to lay up just behind the pace, but so hot were the fractions that Moore eased off the throttle after three furlongs, leaving the pacemakers to burn it up from the front.
Buick, meanwhile, had Ombudsman switched off in second last, some six lengths behind Minnie Hauk and three lengths behind the Arc winner Daryz.
Coming into the straight both Daryz and Minnie Hauk had started to be nudged along to catch the pair up front. Buick moved up on the outside on Ombudsman and was last of the trio to hit the accelerator.
A furlong and a half out the big three were now neck and neck but it was Buick who was the one making the ground and by the furlong pole he’d asserted and gone a length clear.
His turn of foot over the trip was now proving decisive and he went further clear in that last 220 yards, winning by four lengths from Minnie Hauk in second with a further length and three quarters back to Daryz, disappointing in third.
Gosden, a trainer who often proves highly quotable, wasn’t keen to describe Ombudsman as better than his star filly of yesteryear, Enable.
“He’s right up there but when you’re talking about Enable, she won everything.”
He was also reticent about any temptation to step the horse up in trip with races such as the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Ascot and the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe possible targets should they go that route.
“He’s too good to go a mile-and-a-half,” said Gosden, a slightly strange quote from a trainer whose two best horses to date, Golden Horn and Enable, excelled at that trip.
The Eclipse Stakes at Sandown looks the more likely target. Ombudsman was beaten by an Aidan O’Brien horse, Delacroix, in that race last year so he’ll be looking for revenge. If Ballydoyle fielded a pacemaker or two in that it might be a race not only worth savouring for the quality on offer but also for the tactical battle that might ensue.
