Ombudsman better than ever for Juddmonte International repeat bid
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To win his second straight Judmmonte International, Ombudsman faces the same obstacle as a year ago – an Aidan O’Brien-trained 3-year-old.
Ombudsman last August easily disposed of the O’Brien-trained sophomore Delacroix, but now Constitution River stands between Ombudsman and more International glory on Wednesday at York Racecourse.
Both horses, 5-year-old Ombudsman and 3-year-old Constitution River, are natural 1 1/4-mile types, and the International, over 1 5/16 miles, along with the Champion Stakes in October, are the most important 1 1/4-mile races in Europe. Expect the pair to come to York at their very best – and expect Ombudsman to prevail despite giving his younger rival seven pounds.
Seven others are entered in the International, but only one of them, the 3-year-old Item, was priced in single digits by British bookmakers as of Monday.
The International is part of the Breeders’ Cup Challenge Series, and the winner earns automatic fees-paid entry into the Breeders’ Cup Turf, contested over 1 1/2 miles at Keeneland in October. Ombudsman, last September, was considered a possible runner in the BC Turf at Del Mar but instead ran in the Champion, where Calandagan spanked him. Ombudsman already has a Challenge Series victory this year, the Prince of Wales’s at Royal Ascot.
Ombudsman traded Monday at about even money, roughly half the price of Constitution River, and justly so. A Godolphin horse trained by John and Thady Gosden, Ombudsman probably never has been better, not even a year ago, when he won the International by 3 1/2 lengths in an unusually run race – unusual, but probably intentional.
Ombudsman’s record stands at 12-9-3-0, and the horse has captured four Group 1s. Hard to knock him, but his flaws have been two-fold: He has over-raced at times, pulling too hard for his own good, and Ombudsman can idle if he makes the front too soon. That’s why his pacemaker in last year’s International, Birr Castle, went off at a breakneck clip and had some 20 lengths on his nearest pursuer early in York’s very long homestretch. That provided Ombudsman a target until inside the final furlong, helping Ombudsman settle and not giving him a chance to put on the brakes.
Ombudsman and jockey William Buick have a pacemaker this year, too, Devil’s Advocate, but Ombudsman raced very professionally in his two starts this campaign. He overwhelmed overmatched foes cutting back to nine furlongs in the Dubai Turf, then settled and blasted home landing the Prince of Wales’s by four lengths.
Constitution River will put up a stronger fight than anyone did last time. Second in his debut to the very talented Godolphin miler Distant Storm, Constitution River since has gone 5 for 5. He did not make his Group 1 debut until May 31, when Constitution River overcame a difficult outside post and won the French Derby, a 1 5/16-mile race that O’Brien chose over the 1 1/2-mile Derby at Epsom.
Constitution River stepped up to face older rivals in the Group 1 Eclipse last month and won easily, defeating no horse anywhere near Ombudsman’s league, but doing so flashily. Constitution River twice has won racing on the lead and gives Ryan Moore tactical versatility, an improving, high-class colt who still might not be up to Ombudsman’s level.
Item holds a touch of appeal as an unexposed 3-year-old with two course-and-distance wins, including the York Stakes last month. Item, a Juddmonte homebred, couldn’t handle a very soft course in the Derby and should be set to run the best race of his life – and still come up short.
Two races before the International (post time 10:35 a.m. Eastern) comes the Acomb, a Group 3 for 2-year-olds run over seven furlongs and also part of the Breeders’ Cup Challenge Series.
Moore rides favored Haffner for O’Brien, and on ratings Haffner – who will race Wednesday in Peter Brant’s silks – should win. A solid second last out going seven furlongs at Goodwood in the Group 2 Vintage, Haffner has another Ireland shipper, Trean, as a leading rival.
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