They have each won three Group 1 races on the grandest stages in Europe and the Middle East. They have career records with more wins than losses, and both won their last starts. The matchup between Daryz and Ombudsman in Wednesday’s Group 1 Prince of Wales’s Stakes at 1 1/4 miles at Royal Ascot in Britain is a racing fan’s dream. Daryz, trained in France by Francis-Henri Graffard, is on a three-race winning streak, all in Group 1 races at Longchamp Racecourse in Paris, that consists of the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe last October, Europe’s leading race, and two starts this year – the Prix Ganay at 1 5/16 miles on April 26 and the Prix Aga Khan at 1 1/8 miles on May 21. :: Subscribe to the DRF Post Time Email Newsletter: Get the news you need to play today's races!  Despite those credentials, Daryz was not favored to win the $1.34 million Prince of Wales’s Stakes as of Monday. Ombudsman, who has won 8 of 11 starts, was the narrow 11-8 choice, while Daryz, a winner of 7 of 9 starts, was 13-8. Ombudsman, trained in Britain by John and Thady Gosden, is unbeaten in two starts this year – the Group 1 Dubai Turf at 1 1/8 miles at Meydan Racecourse in the United Arab Emirates on March 28 and the Group 3 Brigadier Gerard Stakes at 1 1/4 miles at Sandown Racecourse in Britain on May 28. He won the 2025 Prince of Wales’s Stakes in a 7-1 surprise. Those two are standouts in a field of eight that includes Almaqam, the very capable winner of the Group 1 Tattersalls Gold Cup at 1 5/16 miles at The Curragh in Ireland on May 24 who was 6-1 on Monday, and Minnie Hauk, the 2025 English Oaks winner at 10-1. The other runners are 20-1 or more. Daryz and Ombudsman have met once, although it was not much of a contest. Ombudsman won the Group 1 International Stakes at 1 5/16 miles at York last August, with Daryz last of six. The race at York is the only start outside of Paris-area tracks for Daryz and his only start on good-to-firm turf, conditions expected at Ascot on Wednesday. The Prince of Wales’s Stakes is the fourth race on a seven-race program at Ascot that begins at 9:30 a.m. Eastern. The winner of the Prince of Wales’s Stakes receives a fees-paid berth to the Breeders’ Cup Turf on Oct. 31 at Keeneland. Daryz and Ombudsman have not raced in the United States. Minnie Hauk, second by a head in the 2025 Arc, was sixth in the BC Turf at Del Mar last November, while See The Fire, 20-1 on Wednesday, was ninth in the BC Filly and Mare Turf last year. There are three Group 2 races at Ascot on Wednesday, beginning with the $234,500 Queen Mary Stakes for 2-year-old fillies at five furlongs on a straightaway course. The field of 28 has four American-based runners – Celtic Dispute (trained by Patrick Biancone), More Champagne (Thomas Morley), Ruiva, and Shining Moment (Wesley Ward). More Champagne, who will be ridden by John Velazquez, won a maiden race at 5 1/2 furlongs on turf by 6 1/2 lengths in her debut April 24 at Keeneland, closing from third. Ruiva won a maiden race at 4 1/2 furlongs on dirt April 29 at Churchill Downs. Top California jockey Juan Hernandez rode Ruiva that day and has his Ascot debut this week. Celtic Dispute won the Royal Palm Juvenile at five furlongs on turf against males on May 9 at Gulfstream Park in her second start. Shining Moment won a maiden race at five furlongs on turf by three lengths on May 21 at Churchill Downs after finishing second to More Champagne in April. More Champagne and Ruiva were 14-1 with British bookmakers on Monday. The race is led by Senorita Bonita, a maiden race winner at Nottingham Racecourse in Britain on June 3, and Victorious, winner of the Group 3 Fillies Sprint Stakes at six furlongs at Naas Racecourse in Ireland on May 17 for trainer Aidan O’Brien. ◗ In the Group 2 Queen’s Vase Stakes for 3-year-olds at 1 3/4 miles, last-race winners Galiyan and Limestone will lead the betting in a field of 11. Limestone has won his last three starts in Ireland for trainer Joseph O’Brien. ◗ Blue Bolt, winner of two minor stakes in Britain in the last year, will be a slight favorite in a field of 15 in the Group 2 Duke of Cambridge Stakes for fillies and mares at seven furlongs. :: Want to learn more about handicapping and wagering? Check out DRF's Handicapping 101 and Wagering 101 pages.