Ombudsman beats Calandagan at Ascot as Buick completes Champions Day treble

Ombudsman defeated Calandagan by three and three-quarter lengths in the Champion Stakes at Ascot on Saturday, reversing their finishing order from last year and contributing to a Champions Day treble for William Buick. According to The Guardian’s reporting, the five-year-old, trained by John and Thady Gosden, justified favouritism in the feature event after starting at 5-4.

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Buick positioned Ombudsman in third during the early stages as Devil’s Advocate and Bay City Roller led the field. Calandagan was slow to leave the stalls and raced at the rear. When Buick asked Ombudsman to accelerate, the response gave him an advantage that Calandagan could not erase, despite making up ground approaching the final furlong.

Ombudsman pulled further clear to settle the contest, with Bay City Roller finishing third in the six-runner race. Constitution River, representing Aidan O’Brien, finished fifth, ahead of only the pacemaker. The result left Ombudsman’s connections with a decision over whether his racing career will end immediately or include another appearance before a move to stud.

John Gosden raised the possibility of the Breeders’ Cup Turf at Keeneland in two weeks, saying the track could suit Ombudsman and that there was no need for an immediate decision. Retirement therefore remains an option rather than a confirmed next step. A supplementary entry for the American race was also discussed in The Guardian’s coverage of the winner’s enclosure.

Earlier, Buick had partnered Charlie Appleby’s Talk Of New York to victory in the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes, giving Godolphin wins in both of the meeting’s most valuable races. Ten Bob Tony finished second and Rayif third in that contest. Appleby said the three-year-old winner had completed his campaign and would return next spring after a winter break.

Buick then completed his three consecutive victories aboard Fifth Column in the Balmoral Handicap, finishing ahead of Indalo and Ebt’s Guard. Elsewhere on the card, Minnie Hauk won the Fillies & Mares Stakes for O’Brien, while Andrew Balding’s Mount Atlas won the Long Distance Cup. Those results left Balding less than £80,000 behind O’Brien in the trainers’ championship, which continues until 31 December.