Ombudsman should be tough nut to crack at Royal Ascot
Ombudsman and William Buick (blue) narrowly won the Star Sports Brigadier Gerard Stakes from Gethin at Sandown in May. Pic: Healy Racing
The Prince Of Wales's Stakes is the headline act on day two of Royal Ascot and reigning champion Ombudsman is fancied to get the better of Arc hero Daryz in a showdown to savour.
Trained by John and Thady Gosden, Ombudsman took the step up to Group 1 company in his stride when winning this prestigious contest in impressive fashion last year before going on to further top-level success in the Juddmonte International at York later in the season.
The Night Of Thunder colt began his five-year-old campaign with a Meydan Group 1 victory in March before returning to Britain to narrowly win the Group 3 Brigadier Gerard Stakes at Sandown last month.
Ombudsman will need to step forward on that run to lower the colours of Daryz but fast ground over 10 furlongs are his optimum conditions so he will surely prove a tough nut to crack here.
That being said, Daryz is a seriously talented horse in his own right and the Sea The Stars colt has proven himself to be versatile tripwise since his Arc triumph, winning over a mile and a quarter and nine furlongs this season. However, the suspicion remains that a mile and a half is where he’s at his brilliant best.
The other concern for the French raider is that the only disappointing run of his career came on his sole trip to Britain when he trailed in last of six in the Juddmonte International won by Ombudsman last August. That was also the only time he ran on ground as quick as he’ll encounter today.
Daryz has obviously improved since that York defeat but Ombudsman has less questions to answer and his potent turn of foot can prove the decisive factor.
Ballydoyle contender Minnie Hauk, just touched off by Daryz in the Arc, comes here with something to prove after a disappointing run in the Tattersalls Gold Cup at the Curragh last month but will surely run better this time.
However, like Daryz, the trip may prove too sharp for her on this occasion.
Day two opens with three Group 2 contests with the Queen's Vase looking the most solvable of three tricky puzzles.
The Joseph O’Brien-trained Limestone is two from two this season and should put up a bold bid but he may have to give best to Galiyan.
The Andrew Balding-trained Galiway colt got off the mark at the second time of asking when scoring over a mile and a half at Chester last month, shaping as though an even longer trip — which he gets today — would see him to even better effect.
Stablemate Blue Bolt gets the vote in the Duke Of Cambridge Stakes. Group 1-placed last season before winning at Goodwood on her seasonal reappearance, the Blue Point filly looks a big player here.
Having attracted a maximum field of 28, the Queen Mary Stakes that opens proceedings on day two looks hugely competitive but a chance is taken on Wild Blossom, a 10-length victor on debut at Carlisle last month, landing the spoils for Karl Burke, a trainer with a fine record in two-year-old races at this meeting.
The Windsor Castle Stakes has attracted a field of 25 but Sergei Diaghilev produced a smart effort when successful on debut at the Curragh last month and the Aidan O’Brien-trained son of Wootton Bassett looks the one to beat in the final race of the day.
2.30 Wild Blossom
3.05 Galiyan
3.40 Blue Bolt
4.20 Ombudsman (Nap)
5.00 Fifth Column
5.35 Alobayyah
6.10 Sergei Diaghilev (NB)
2.30 Senorita Bonita
3.05 Limestone
3.40 Friendly Soul
4.20 Daryz
5.00 Classic
5.35 Stateira
6.10 Controlla
