A contentious G1 Prince Of Wales's Stakes is in the cards at Royal Ascot next week, as nine horses have stood their ground, among them John and Thady Gosden trainee Ombudsman (Night Of Thunder).
Successful in this race last term, the Godolphin colt faces G1 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe hero Daryz (Sea The Stars) and multiple Group 1 scorer Minnie Hauk (Frankel) among others.
Ascot's dual G1 British Champions Fillies & Mares Stakes heroine Kalpana (Study Of Man) is back, as is fellow top-level scorer Almaqam (Lope De Vega).
Ombudsman is aiming to become the first repeat winner of this contest since Muhtarram (Alleged) in 1994/1995, who was also trained by the elder Gosden. In 2026 alone, Ombudsman has prevailed in the G1 Dubai Turf at Meydan in March, and in the G3 Brigadier Gerard Stakes at Sandown in May.
Said Thady, “He has mentally progressed a great deal and developed well with his racing. He's now very professional. You saw at Sandown, he settled throughout the race, and in the home straight, when William [Buick] asked him, he was always doing enough.
“We'd always thought a lot of him. He showed a good amount and progressed well through his three-year-old campaign, but there were always question marks about stepping up to Group 1 company. But he duly delivered in good style and he is the horse he is now.
“He's currently rated 128 and he's a multiple Group 1 winner, of course here, and across the world in Dubai. He ran in the Dubai Turf first time out this season, a wonderful race to win. He then came back, had a bit of a freshen up and ran in the Brigadier Gerard again, beating a good horse in Gethin.
“He's been well set and goes to the Prince of Wales's in good form. It looks like a very hot race this year, with Daryz, the Arc winner from last year, running.”
The field is completed by Dancing Gemini (Camelot), Devil's Advocate (Too Darn Hot), Mississippi River (Lope De Vega) and See The Fire (Sea The Stars).
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