Ombudsman gives Gosden another International, Derby hero Lambourn loses
Rab Havlin set a searing pace on Ombudsman's pacemaker Birr Castle and when he was 25 lengths clear it looked like he might pull off a shock on the 150/1 shot, sent over from France by Andre Fabre.
However, he began to tire and William Buick found an extra gear on Ombudsman to take the honours with second favourite Delacroix, who had beaten him in their previous clash the Eclipse Stakes, finishing runner-up.
Birr Castle took third and a hefty cheque of £141,000 ($190,000), due reward for his efforts -- Buick doing a high five with Havlin for his riding performance.
Japanese runner Danon Decile failed to justify his tag as third favourite, watched on television by an estimated 3 million people back in Japan, finishing second last of the six runners with his connections saying "there were no excuses".
For Buick, though, it was a bitter sweet victory as he dedicated the victory to a close friend.
"Lost a dear friend last week," said the 37-year-old Norway-born jockey.
"I was meant to be having dinner with him tonight but he passed away suddenly."
Gosden said he had been worried at one stage Fabre's horse would win.
"With two furlongs to run I thought Andre had won the race!" said Gosden.
"But Ombudsman is a lovely horse, he won it emphatically, he has only been beaten in the Eclipse this season and that was a muddling affair.
"He is getting better and better, he's a proper horse."
'Where he belongs'
Earlier the warning signs were out for Ryan Moore and Lambourn a fair way from home in the Group Two Voltigeur Stakes.
As he faded to fifth it was Pride of Arras, a horse that finished well behind him both at Epsom and in the Irish Derby, that prevailed.
Well fancied for Epsom when he won the Dante at York in May, it appeared trainer Ralph Beckett's decision to geld him had transformed him.
The only downside is that it rules him out of running in the oldest classic, the English St Leger at Doncaster in September.
"He is just a very good horse," said Beckett.
"There is never one specific factor in losing one's form, there are layers.
"He needed gelding. After his two disappointing Derby runs the game was gone as regards being a stallion.
"He is now back to where he belongs, it is fantastic."
Beckett was loathe to say it was his greatest training performance.
"I suppose at the end of the year we will be proud to have got him back to the top tier."
Winning jockey Rossa Ryan said gelding him had been the right call.
"I won't lie, I lost a bit of belief in him," he said.
"Form, though, is temporary, class is permanent and he showed that in the Dante and today."
Distant Storm cost Dubai's Godolphin Operation 1.9million euros but the 11/10 favourite failed to sparkle in the Group Three Acomb Stakes fading to finish third behind Gewan and Aidan O'Brien's Italy.
Gewan's victory owed much to jockey PJ McDonald, who has struck up a great relationship with trainer Andrew Balding. This was his 17th winner in 55 rides for him.
Gewan, whose performance earned him a 16/1 quote for next year's English 2000 Guineas, had shown he has the ideal big race temperament by falling asleep in his box an hour before the race.
"He is so laid back, an ideal ride" purred McDonald.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
France 24
7 hours ago
- France 24
Ombudsman gives Gosden another International, Derby hero Lambourn loses
Gosden, who shares training duties with his son Thady, might have feared a case of deja vu after another stable star Field of Gold was beaten by his pacemaker at Goodwood in the Sussex Stakes. Rab Havlin set a searing pace on Ombudsman's pacemaker Birr Castle and when he was 25 lengths clear it looked like he might pull off a shock on the 150/1 shot, sent over from France by Andre Fabre. However, he began to tire and William Buick found an extra gear on Ombudsman to take the honours with second favourite Delacroix, who had beaten him in their previous clash the Eclipse Stakes, finishing runner-up. Birr Castle took third and a hefty cheque of £141,000 ($190,000), due reward for his efforts -- Buick doing a high five with Havlin for his riding performance. Japanese runner Danon Decile failed to justify his tag as third favourite, watched on television by an estimated 3 million people back in Japan, finishing second last of the six runners with his connections saying "there were no excuses". For Buick, though, it was a bitter sweet victory as he dedicated the victory to a close friend. "Lost a dear friend last week," said the 37-year-old Norway-born jockey. "I was meant to be having dinner with him tonight but he passed away suddenly." Gosden said he had been worried at one stage Fabre's horse would win. "With two furlongs to run I thought Andre had won the race!" said Gosden. "But Ombudsman is a lovely horse, he won it emphatically, he has only been beaten in the Eclipse this season and that was a muddling affair. "He is getting better and better, he's a proper horse." 'Where he belongs' Earlier the warning signs were out for Ryan Moore and Lambourn a fair way from home in the Group Two Voltigeur Stakes. As he faded to fifth it was Pride of Arras, a horse that finished well behind him both at Epsom and in the Irish Derby, that prevailed. Well fancied for Epsom when he won the Dante at York in May, it appeared trainer Ralph Beckett's decision to geld him had transformed him. The only downside is that it rules him out of running in the oldest classic, the English St Leger at Doncaster in September. "He is just a very good horse," said Beckett. "There is never one specific factor in losing one's form, there are layers. "He needed gelding. After his two disappointing Derby runs the game was gone as regards being a stallion. "He is now back to where he belongs, it is fantastic." Beckett was loathe to say it was his greatest training performance. "I suppose at the end of the year we will be proud to have got him back to the top tier." Winning jockey Rossa Ryan said gelding him had been the right call. "I won't lie, I lost a bit of belief in him," he said. "Form, though, is temporary, class is permanent and he showed that in the Dante and today." Distant Storm cost Dubai's Godolphin Operation 1.9million euros but the 11/10 favourite failed to sparkle in the Group Three Acomb Stakes fading to finish third behind Gewan and Aidan O'Brien's Italy. Gewan's victory owed much to jockey PJ McDonald, who has struck up a great relationship with trainer Andrew Balding. This was his 17th winner in 55 rides for him. Gewan, whose performance earned him a 16/1 quote for next year's English 2000 Guineas, had shown he has the ideal big race temperament by falling asleep in his box an hour before the race. "He is so laid back, an ideal ride" purred McDonald.
France 24
18 hours ago
- France 24
Time to Go: Japan pro board game player retires at 98
Go is a strategy game considered to be even more complex than chess and involves players placing black and white stones at points on a square wooden table. Kazuko Sugiuchi turned professional in 1948 and won her first title 11 years later, before going on to win the prestigious Women's Meijin Championship four times in a row. She became Japan's oldest professional player in April last year, breaking the record previously held by her late husband Masao. She is set to be promoted to the rank of ninth dan after retiring, becoming the first woman to reach that level. She said the gruelling sessions at the board were the reason why she is calling it quits. "I have always worked hard with the belief that Go is an art and a lifelong pursuit, but I have decided that playing six hours without a break is no longer possible," she was reported as saying by national broadcaster NHK. "I would like to express my deepest gratitude to everyone who has shown me kindness over the 80 years since I first aspired to be a Go player."
France 24
3 days ago
- France 24
Akie Iwai joins twin sister Chisato as LPGA winner with Portland Classic triumph
Iwai started the day at Edgewater Country Club with a two-stroke lead and never faltered to finish with a 24-under par total of 264. Chisato Iwai was among the golfers trying to apply pressure, charging up the leaderboard with an eight-under par 64, but it was American Gurleen Kaur who finished second after an impressive, bogey-free seven-under par 65 for 268. Former US collegiate standout Kaur, opened with three straight birdies and had four more coming in for her career-best LPGA round. Akie Iwai became the 10th first-time LPGA winner this season and the fifth Japanese player to triumph. She said she'd felt pressure to join the flood of Japanese winners, but even more she was inspired by her sister's triumph at the Riviera Maya Open in Mexico in May. "(She) really inspired me," said world number 29 Iwai, who was runner-up this year at Thailand and the LA Championship. "That's why I did my best this year." Iwai got off to a steady start, with back-to-back birdies at the fifth and sixth and two more at 11 and 14. She got up and down for par from off the green at 16, then capped her day with another birdie brace, curling in a testing birdie putt at 17 before draining an 18-footer at 18. "Today I was able to conquer myself," she said. Her sister, who had been watching the final holes nervously, was the first to rush the green and start the champagne-spray celebrations. "Just watching, so nervous," Chisato said as Iwai was coming down the final stretch. "I'm cheering for her." But first she had been chasing, and hard. Chisato started the day seven adrift but after an early bogey exploded with eagles at the fifth and seventh -- with a birdie at the sixth sandwiched between. She strung together four straight birdies from the ninth through the 12th and rebounded from a bogey at 15 with one last birdie at 17. She finished tied for third on 19-under 269 with Sweden's Linn Grant, who rolled in the seventh birdie of her five-under 67 at 18. Australia's Grace Kim, who captured her first major title at the Evian Championship last month, started the day two shots off the lead and carded a two-under 70 that left her in sole possession of fifth place on 270.
