OMBUDSMAN: A CHAMPION ON CHAMPIONS DAY

Ombudsman (5/4F) turned the tables on Calandagan with a stunning performance in the G1 Qatar Racing Champion Stakes.

Just over two lengths behind Calandagan in last year’s edition of the 10-furlong showpiece, Ombudsman travelled powerfully behind Bay City Roller in the straight as his old rival unleased a strong run from the rear of the six runners.

It soon became apparent that Ombdudsman and Calandagan had it between them, but John & Thady Gosden’s contender quickly settled the outcome with a fine change of gear. Calandagan (5/2) was almost four lengths behind at the line, with Bay City Roller (17/2) a further length and three quarters back in third.

Ombudsman, who was bouncing back from a fourth in the G1 Juddmonte International, now has three Ascot wins to his name, having become the first horse in 31 years to win back-to-back G1 Prince Of Wales’s Stakes at the Royal Ascot.

John Gosden said: “I thought William was riding him very confidently in the straight, and I thought, ‘When are you going to go?’ He showed that turn of foot. The ground today is on the slow side of good, and he can handle that. At York, he just spun his wheels, but today we were back to seeing what he is. It was a great performance in a small but classy field.

“We set nice, even fractions – Rab [Havlin] on Devil’s Advocate – and there was no plan to go fast, slow or pull it up. We talked about that beforehand. We wanted solid, even fractions, and Bay City Roller was out there with us. It was a special performance from a special horse.

“We got a little too far back in this race last year, way back, 10 or 11 lengths off it, so we thought we were not going to do that again. This time, the race went perfectly. William rode him just how he wanted to, and he is a top-class horse when we get it right. I think we got the tactics a little wrong last year, but that takes nothing away from Calandagan; he won well.

“Either he will go to stud or I will discuss it with His Highness Sheikh Mohammed to see if he would like to consider putting him in the Breeders’ Cup Turf. That is the only other option now. Golden Horn did not enjoy Keeneland because it was like a sandpit when he ran, and it rained three inches. But this horse would handle it well. He is quick and agile, and he could have sat on the lead if he had wanted to today. He is the right type of horse, and I think the track would suit him, so it is a possibility. We do not have to make a rapid decision.

“Ombudsman is the best mile-and-a-quarter horse I have trained, definitely. I do not know if he is the best overall. He is going to stud, so I had better say yes, had I not, because that helps sell the nominations!”

William Buick said: “That was something else, but Ombudsman has shown that before, has he not? I think at York, the softer ground was one factor, and there were a couple of others. It was a funny race. But we saw the real Ombudsman today, and that turn of foot is amazing. Explosive. He is the fastest horse I have ever ridden over 10 furlongs. It is an amazing feeling.

“He has such a good racing brain and races so economically, but when you ask him, he fills up, and he is like a coiled spring. You fill him up and off he goes. He is an incredible racehorse, and I do feel very privileged to ride a horse of his calibre. He really is amazing.

“I could see Calandagan in the corner of my eye, but only very briefly, because we left him again. We had a ding-dong last year, and it is one-one now. Two great racehorses, and they produced a great race last year, but it was our turn today.”

Francis-Henri Graffard said of Calandagan: “He jumped quite slowly and took time to get on the pace, but he was following Ombudsman nicely. On the last bend, we had to go round other horses, and my horse came through really strongly with a nice stride. But Ombudsman kicked for home very strongly. He is a real champion with a lot of power. My horse tried, but this year was different to last. It is not bad to be second to a horse like him.”

He added: “The plan was to go to the Japan Cup with him again, so if he comes out well, hopefully we will go back there with him. Fingers crossed, he can perform again.”

Oisin Murphy said of Bay City Roller: “A huge run from him. He takes his racing very well. He travelled brilliantly, picked up and kept going, even when he was passed by the front two.”

Night In Vegas lands another jackpot prize

Night In Vegas (5/2) secured Kennet Valley Syndicates and Eve Johnson Houghton another valuable payday with a thrilling last-gasp success in the Qatar Racing British Champions Day Two-Year-Old Conditions Stakes.

Settled in rear of the 11 runners, Night In Vegas had a lot of ground to make up after market rivals Arapaho Gold and Satellite Of Love kicked off the front approaching the final two furlongs.

Charlie Bishop galvanised his mount to challenge inside the final furlong and, in a bobbing finish, Night In Vegas had his head down on the line to deny G2 Gimcrack Stakes victor Arapaho Gold (9/4F) by a nose. Satellite Of Love (4/1), winner of the Redcar Two-Year-Old Trophy last time out, was a head further back in third.

Night In Vegas has now won six of his eight starts this season, including three sales races at Newmarket and Doncaster, and amassed more than £720,000 in prize money.

Johnson Houghton said: “My heart is not great! I was standing up the top there with Becky Dunlop, saying, ‘I think we are beat, I think we are beat’, and she said, ‘Wait for the photo’. The moment it came through, I made a right noise – a bit of a show of myself! I honestly thought we were beat.

“I think they set off very fast and he just got behind a wall of horses that just are not as good as him. Luckily, he is like a little motorbike. He has been incredible – what a horse. He has run eight times, won six, been third in the Richmond and fifth in the Coventry.

“As you might see, he has not got the greatest feet, and we probably did not have him in the greatest condition in the middle of the summer when the ground was so firm – that really told on him – so I do not think that was his best form, and he is improving. He is just a wonder horse to train.

“I said when we got here, ‘I hope he has still got a song to sing, our Elvis [horse’s nickname]’, and he still does. This should be a Group race. I understand why it is not, I get the politics of it, but it is as good as a Group race. Night In Vegas is going to have a nice holiday, and so am I!”

Bishop said: “I was relieved. I had a lovely run through, but the first two just got away from me a little bit. I thought I was running out of time, but we got there in the nick of time. This horse is an absolute warrior; he does not know how to get beat. Credit to Eve and all her team.

“I told connections beforehand I was planning to be patient on him. It was smooth enough, then I thought they had got away from me, but inside the last half a furlong, I knew he would get them. His head was down as far as he could get it; he does not like getting beat. I would have been very upset if I had got beat.

“Night In Vegas is easy to ride. His only small hiccup can be being a fidget in the stalls, not even anything bad. He just does not stand on all fours, so because of that, he just pops up and misses half a length. But his will to win is incredible, beyond anything.”

Mount Atlas boosts Balding’s hopes in Qatar Racing British Champions Long Distance Cup

Andrew Balding landed a blow in the trainers’ championship as Mount Atlas caused a 33/1 shock in the G1 Qatar Racing British Champions Long Distance Cup.

Progressive over staying trips this season, Mount Atlas crept into contention under PJ McDonald and had to wait until the final furlong before finding room to deliver his challenge.

Queenstown (14/1) was resilient in front but had no response once Mount Atlas was in the clear. The winning distance was three-quarters of a length, with G1 St Leger hero Highwayman (7/4F) the same distance further back in third.

Balding said: “PJ has given Mount Atlas an absolutely stellar ride there. We got out at just the right time – he does not want to hit the front too soon, and it has panned out perfectly. That is his style. He needs to be delivered late, and it could not have worked better.

“Mount Atlas is a very talented horse. We were taking a chance over the two miles, but he loves Ascot and PJ gave him an absolutely brilliant ride. I am so thrilled, and it is so appropriate in those colours as well. I am just sorry my mother is not here – she has gone to watch a hockey match. She would have loved that because, obviously, she bred him.

“Mount Atlas has been on it all season and been a big contributor. I am delighted with PJ. It panned out great for him today because he had cover right until he needed to get out, so it could not have worked better.”

McDonald said: “These are the places where you want to be riding winners – and need to be riding winners. Obviously, I have got more years behind me than in front of me, but it is just great to be a part of this team. Like I have said before, the staff are probably the politest staff I have ever worked for. It is a great team.

“Andrew and Anna Lisa [Balding] put a lot of confidence in me, which gives you a lot of confidence moving forwards. To be riding nice horses, you need to be riding for a good stable, and I am very happy to be a small part of a huge team. I am also very happy to have a horse like him, because how brave was he in the final furlong.

“The way the race panned out for me, it opened up just at the right time and he was through the gap and on the line before he really knew what was going on. To be fair, it was tight between Ryan [Moore] and Doyler, and he answered for me. When I sat into him, he stuck his head in there and moved through.

“Andrew, Anna Lisa and the whole team at Park House have been so good to me these last few years, and that’s probably the best way I can pay them back – a Group One winner on Champions Day.”

Almeraq cements reputation in Qatar Racing British Champions Sprint

Almeraq (11/10F) confirmed himself to be the best British sprinter around with a third G1 victory of the season in the Qatar Racing British Champions Sprint.

Lining up after an impressive victory over Paborus in the Sprint Cup at Haydock Park, William Haggas’ contender had to work harder to beat the same rival this time after racing on different parts of the track.

Paborus (18/1) was given an enterprising ride along the far rail, forcing Almeraq to angle that way to launch his challenge, but Tom Marquand’s mount picked up strongly to wear down the eventual runner-up and win by a neck. The winner’s stablemate Division (17/2) was over three lengths further back in third.

Owned and bred by Shadwell, Almeraq was gaining a second success at Ascot this season following the G1 Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes at Royal Ascot.

Haggas said: “Almeraq had a bit of ground to make up, but he got there. The horse that ran very well in second, who was well beaten by us at Haydock, got much closer but, fortunately, not close enough to us.

“He deserves to be [Britain’s Champion Sprinter]. He is a good horse and has won three Group Ones; it is great. He has come back from a bad fall at York last year. He is a really, really good horse.

“He must be the best sprinter here, I would have thought. I do not know whether he goes to stud at the end of this season – I would have thought so, but no one has talked to me about it, so I live in hope. I am not asking!

“We have to thank lots of people, in particular Andrew Tinkler, who rides Almeraq every day but will not come to see him run. He did not come to Royal Ascot or Haydock, so he is sitting at home with his children. Well done, Andrew.”

Marquand said: “Almeraq is the best in the division. He has shown versatility all year; good to firm ground at Ascot, heavy ground at Haydock, and back on good ground here. He has felt like a proper, proper top-class Group One horse on all occasions, and I suppose to win three Group Ones in a year at the distance, you have to be.

“He did have ground to make up, but Ascot is a very stiff track. He blew Paborous out of the water at Haydock, but he did not have to make any ground up that day. I flicked over on to Danny’s heels with two and a half to run at Haydock, whereas today he had the same amount of ground to make up from half a furlong out. It was a tougher job, but it just showed how good he was. He is real class.”

Minnie Hauk bounces back in Qatar Racing British Champions Fillies & Mares Stakes

Minnie Hauk (5/1) rediscovered her best form for Aidan O’Brien with a commanding victory in the G1 Qatar Racing British Champions Fillies & Mares Stakes.

The four-year-old sat on the quarters of front-running stablemate Sugar Island before being produced to challenge by Ryan Moore approaching the final furlong. She readily went away soon after to win by a length and a half from Believed (16/1), with Lilt (6/1) a neck further back in third.

Tenth in the G1 Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe on her latest appearance, it was a return to form for Minnie Hauk, who enjoyed a G1 hat trick last year in the English, Irish and Yorkshire Oaks.

O’Brien said: “Minnie Hauk is a very high-class filly. William [Buick] thought in the Arc that she just got caught in there and they went slow – he felt she was a lot better than that on the day. Ryan kept it quite simple on her today; she was drawn wide, and I thought he was very good on her. He stayed out until he came back in.

“We know what she did last year, and she had a lot of trouble with corns this year, so we never got a really good run into her. But since the Arc, she has been lovely and everything has been great with her. Corns are like having a stone in your foot; we would get them cleared up and they would come back again. She has been prone to them, but lately they have come right.

“The lads will decide what they want to do – whether they go to America with her or whether she is retired, but I think she is going to Justify at the end of the year. Whatever happens, I am delighted for everyone involved.”

Moore said: “The race was straightforward, but getting Minnie Hauk here has not been straightforward. She ran in the Arc 13 days ago and performed today the best she has done all year. Things have not gone right for her, but she was doing everything lovely. We were able to slide outside Sugar Island, did not go mad, and she just had more class than them today.”

Talk Of New York walks the walk in Queen Elizabeth II Stakes (Sponsored By Qatar Racing)

Talk Of New York (3/1) continued his ascent to stardom with a dominant victory in the G1 Queen Elizabeth II Stakes (Sponsored By Qatar Racing) for Charlie Appleby and Godolphin.

 Covered up in midfield, Talk Of New York made smooth headway to challenge at the two-furlong pole and readily put daylight between himself and his 10 rivals.

 Ten Bob Tony (7/1) and Rayif (10/1) closed the deficit towards the line but never looked like getting there, going down by a length and a quarter and a neck. The 7/4 favourite Gstaad was well-beaten in eighth.

Talk Of New York has gradually climbed the ladder this year, with today’s success coming on the back of impressive victories at Listed and G2 level, in addition to a third in the G1 St James’s Palace Stakes at Royal Ascot.

Appleby said: “I am delighted with the way the horse has matured. First of all, I want to give Maurizio [Pasquale] a lot of credit for this horse. Talk Of New York has been a challenge for everybody. Early on in his career, he was very headstrong, and Maurizio has always had a lot of faith in this horse. He told me back in the spring, ‘Charlie, he is one of the best three-year-olds I have sat on’.

“All the team have done such a great job with him. What I loved today, and what I saw at Newmarket, is the way he is maturing mentally. He walked around the paddock today like a proper old horse, whereas earlier in his career he would get a bit on his toes, and you never like to see that too much when you are coming into these bigger events.” 

William Buick said: “Talk Of New York is a very smart horse. Credit to Charlie and the team, they have done a great job with him. He has been a slow learner, but he is really quite good, and we are starting to see him reach his full potential.

“Champions Day is fantastic. There are 30-odd thousand people here today, it is a beautiful day, the ground is perfect, and this is what it is all about: very competitive racing. It is hard to win, so we have to enjoy it when we do.”

Fifth Column seals Godolphin treble in Balmoral Handicap (Sponsored by Qatar Racing)

A banner Qatar Racing British Champions Day for Godolphin was completed in the final race of the afternoon when Fifth Column (22/1) won the Balmoral Handicap (Sponsored by Qatar Racing).

Fresh from winning the previous two races in the famous blue silks, William Buick timed the fractions perfectly to get Fifth Column to the front inside the final 50 yards to seal a famous treble for himself and Godolphin, with Indalo (16/1), Ebt’s Guard (11/1) and Scoville (4/1F) filling the places.

The operation also picked up the Champion Owner title for the 18th time in between the last two races, completing a truly sensational couple of hours for the ‘Boys in Blue’.