Ombudsman has no trouble in Dubai Turf
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Proven at 1 1/4 miles in Europe in recent years, Ombudsman showed he is just fine racing at 1 1/8 miles with a smart win in Saturday’s Group 1 Dubai Turf at Meydan Racecourse in the United Arab Emirates.
Ombudsman, who paid a mere $2.80 in American pools, closed from fifth in a field of 11 to win by two lengths over 9-1 Quddwah.
John Gosden, who trains with his son Thady, said Ombudsman was not in peak form for the $5 million Dubai Turf, the 5-year-old horse’s first start since October.
John Gosden described the win as a “big relief.”
“It's not easy coming out of a winter in England, bringing a horse in ready to run,” John Gosden said. “I think he'll come on for the race. He was probably coming in here at 90 percent but it was enough to get the job done.”
Ridden by William Buick, Ombudsman was three-wide on the turn, chasing pacesetter Gaia Force, the 5-1 second choice. Ombudsman took the lead with more than a furlong remaining.
“I thought William was wise,” John Gosden said. “He said, ‘I'll give the ground away, go wide, lose the ground there, but I want a clear run in the straight.’”
Ombudsman was timed in 1:47.46.
Quddwah, the winner of two Group 2 races on turf earlier this year at Meydan, finished a head in front of 34-1 Andreas Vesalius, a locally-based 7-year-old gelding who had his Grade 1 debut on Saturday.
Ombudsman earned a fees-paid berth to the BC Mile at Keeneland on Oct. 31 with the win in the Dubai Turf, by far the richest of his career. An appearance at Keeneland in the BC Mile would be a surprise, considering Ombudsman has developed a reputation as one of Europe’s leading runners at 1 1/4 miles.
Last year, Ombudsman won the Group 1 Prince of Wales’s Stakes at 1 1/4 miles at Royal Ascot in June, and the Group 1 Juddmonte International at 1 5/16 miles at York Racecourse in August. In other races at 1 1/4 miles, Ombudsman was second in the Group 1 Eclipse Stakes at Sandown Park in July, and second in his final start of the year in the Group 1 Champion Stakes at Ascot in October.
After Saturday’s win, John Gosden said Ombudsman’s next race is likely to be the Group 1 Prince of Wales’s Stakes at Royal Ascot on June 17.
“He’s going to have a very exciting year ahead,” Buick said.
Owned by Sheikh Mohammed’s Godolphin Racing, Ombudsman has won 7 of 10 starts. He is a 5-year-old horse by Night of Thunder.
Gosden won the Dubai Turf for the fourth time. Lord North won the race from 2021 to 2023.
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