Ombudsman Takes Juddmonte After Early Scare

Ombudsman gave trainer John Gosden his fourth victory in the last eight Juddmonte International Stakes (2,063m), the feature £1,319,375 (S$2.28 million) Group 1 race on the opening day of the Ebor meeting on Aug 20, but there was a surprise defeat for Epsom Derby winner Lambourn.

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YORK — Ombudsman gave trainer John Gosden his fourth victory in the last eight Juddmonte International Stakes (2,063m), the feature £1,319,375 (S$2.28 million) Group 1 race on the opening day of the Ebor meeting on Aug 20, but there was a surprise defeat for Epsom Derby winner Lambourn.

Gosden, who shares training duties with his son Thady, might have feared a case of deja vu after another stable star Field Of Gold was beaten by his pacemaker at Goodwood in the Group 1 Sussex Stakes (1,600m) on July 30.

Rab Havlin set a searing pace on Ombudsman's pacemaker Birr Castle and, when he was 25 lengths clear, it looked like he might pull off a shock on the 150-1 shot, sent over from France by Andre Fabre.

But, he began to tire and William Buick found an extra gear on Ombudsman to take the honours with second favourite Delacroix (Ryan Moore), who had beaten him in their previous clash in the Eclipse Stakes, running second.