No complaints about the Ombudsman as he headlines stellar Eclipse Stakes line-up at Sandown
Ombudsman headlines a stellar cast of world-class runners in the Group One Eclipse Stakes (1,990m) at Sandown on Saturday.
The John and Thady Gosden-trained four-year-old bounced back from defeat on seasonal reappearance with a devastating performance to win the Group One Prince Of Wales's Stakes (2,000m) at Royal Ascot last month.
Held up for a run for much of the straight, William Buick managed to manoeuvre around runners at the 200m pole and charge home to win going away in impressive fashion.
That took his record to five wins from six starts and owners Godolphin come into the race with two chances, with Group One 2,000 Guineas (1,600m) winner Ruling Court looking to bounce back from defeat in the Group One St James's Palace Stakes (1,600m).
WOW! OMBUDSMAN THROUGH TRAFFIC TO WIN THE PRINCE OF WALES'S STAKES! #ROYALASCOT pic.twitter.com/xRL1TAXgbz — At The Races (@AtTheRaces) June 18, 2025
'The Prince Of Wales's was a very tough race with a lot of Group One horses in there. He is still relatively inexperienced and that was his first run in a Group One,' said Thady Gosden of Ombudsman on Godolphin's website.
'We always thought he had the potential to be a horse of the class he has turned out to be and we found that out at Ascot. He is a horse that has developed quite gradually and hopefully has a bright future ahead of him.
'He stays a mile and a quarter, which gives us plenty of options, and we'll have to see if he stays any further. Sandown is a stiff mile and a quarter and we'll know more after this.'
Chief of the dangers is likely to be last year's Group One Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe (2,400m) fourth Sosie, who is unbeaten in two Group One starts this year, most recently in the Group One Prix d'Ispahan (1,800m).
Sosie picks up impressively to reel in Sardinian Warrior and take out the Group One Prix d'Ispahan at ParisLongchamp! 🇫🇷 pic.twitter.com/CDzfhxt9zG — At The Races (@AtTheRaces) May 25, 2025
The field is completed by Classic winners Camille Pissarro and Ruling Court, Aidan O'Brien's Delacroix and juvenile top-level scorer Hotazhell.
There is also simulcast action from South Africa, with the Group One Durban July (2,200m) featuring a huge field of 18 runners.
The favourite is likely to be the Group One Cape Metropolitan Stakes (2,000m) winner Eight On Eighteen, but he will face stern competition from last year's hero Oriental Charm.
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South China Morning Post
04-07-2025
- South China Morning Post
No complaints about the Ombudsman as he headlines stellar Eclipse Stakes line-up at Sandown
There is also simulcast racing from South Africa in the form of the Group One Durban July (2,000m) Ombudsman headlines a stellar cast of world-class runners in the Group One Eclipse Stakes (1,990m) at Sandown on Saturday. The John and Thady Gosden-trained four-year-old bounced back from defeat on seasonal reappearance with a devastating performance to win the Group One Prince Of Wales's Stakes (2,000m) at Royal Ascot last month. Held up for a run for much of the straight, William Buick managed to manoeuvre around runners at the 200m pole and charge home to win going away in impressive fashion. That took his record to five wins from six starts and owners Godolphin come into the race with two chances, with Group One 2,000 Guineas (1,600m) winner Ruling Court looking to bounce back from defeat in the Group One St James's Palace Stakes (1,600m). WOW! OMBUDSMAN THROUGH TRAFFIC TO WIN THE PRINCE OF WALES'S STAKES! #ROYALASCOT — At The Races (@AtTheRaces) June 18, 2025 'The Prince Of Wales's was a very tough race with a lot of Group One horses in there. He is still relatively inexperienced and that was his first run in a Group One,' said Thady Gosden of Ombudsman on Godolphin's website. 'We always thought he had the potential to be a horse of the class he has turned out to be and we found that out at Ascot. He is a horse that has developed quite gradually and hopefully has a bright future ahead of him. 'He stays a mile and a quarter, which gives us plenty of options, and we'll have to see if he stays any further. Sandown is a stiff mile and a quarter and we'll know more after this.' Chief of the dangers is likely to be last year's Group One Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe (2,400m) fourth Sosie, who is unbeaten in two Group One starts this year, most recently in the Group One Prix d'Ispahan (1,800m). Sosie picks up impressively to reel in Sardinian Warrior and take out the Group One Prix d'Ispahan at ParisLongchamp! 🇫🇷 — At The Races (@AtTheRaces) May 25, 2025 The field is completed by Classic winners Camille Pissarro and Ruling Court, Aidan O'Brien's Delacroix and juvenile top-level scorer Hotazhell. There is also simulcast action from South Africa, with the Group One Durban July (2,200m) featuring a huge field of 18 runners. The favourite is likely to be the Group One Cape Metropolitan Stakes (2,000m) winner Eight On Eighteen, but he will face stern competition from last year's hero Oriental Charm.
South China Morning Post
26-06-2025
- South China Morning Post
Lyle Hewitson facing up to 10 weeks on the sidelines after nasty Happy Valley fall
Lyle Hewitson is hoping to be fit and firing for the start of the 2025-26 season after suffering wrist and ankle fractures in a nasty fall at Happy Valley on Wednesday night. Hewitson slammed into the turf after Seasons Wit broke down in Wednesday night's fifth race, with doctors telling the South African jockey he could be sidelined for as long as 10 weeks. 'I'm going OK all things considered. It's so frustrating. Obviously it's all about perspective and it could have been worse, so I am lucky, but I was just having such a nice end to the season. Now I'm out for 10 weeks or so,' said Hewitson. 'I think they always probably give you the worst-case scenario, so hopefully I can be back in eight weeks, which gives me enough time to be fit and ready for the new season.' Lyle Hewitson enjoys a winner at Sha Tin last Sunday. Hewitson will undergo surgery to insert pins and plates on Thursday night and hopes to head home from hospital on Friday. 'The ankle is not too bad and I'm not actually sore in the ankle, but the doctor said if he puts a plate in it, it will allow me to load weight and actually use it. It's the best way to ensure it will knit properly,' he said. 'They said I'd be knocked out anyway while they were doing my wrist so they may as well do the ankle all at once. HK Racing News Get updates direct to your inbox Sign up Best Bets Racing News By registering you agree to our T&Cs & Privacy Policy Error: Please enter a valid email. The email address is already in use. Please login to subscribe. Error, please try again later. THANK YOU You are one the list. 'I'm in a lot of pain with my wrist now when the meds wear off because I've got a broken bone, but they've said that once it's all put back together the pain will reduce completely. Hopefully that means I can head home and relax.' When Hewitson does return home, the motivation driving his recovery won't only be a return to riding, but also helping wife Hannah with their two-week-old son Myles. 'It's so cool,' he said of becoming a father. 'Now I've got heaps of time to learn to be a dad.' Jockey Jerry Chau gives My Day My Way a pat after their victory on Wednesday night. Karis Teetan and Jerry Chau Chun-lok were also involved in Wednesday night's fall, with both escaping serious injury. Teetan was left with leg soreness after tumbling from Watch This One and has been passed fit to ride at Sha Tin on Saturday. 'All my scans were clear. I saw the doctor this morning and he's happy,' said the Mauritian, who partners Agenda, Sunny Sing Spirit, Brave Witness, Legendary Impact, Viva Taste, Wukong Jewellery and Beauty Alliance at the season's 83rd meeting. Chau landed heavily after falling from Eternal Fortune but was confident of being discharged from hospital on Thursday after remaining under observation on Wednesday night. The 25-year-old was feeling very sore and sorry for himself on Thursday but is hopeful of returning to the saddle after serving a two-meeting suspension which would have seen him miss Saturday's meeting and next Tuesday's Sha Tin fixture anyway. Hewitson joins Vincent Ho Chak-yiu in being sidelined for the rest of the season, with Ho continuing his slow recovery from a serious concussion suffered in February.
South China Morning Post
22-06-2025
- South China Morning Post
Lazzat defeats Satono Reve and Rebel's Romance shines as Royal Ascot comes to a close
Lazzat (red cap) and James Doyle get the better of Satono Reve. Photo: Reuters French star Lazzat broke Japanese hearts as he downed Satono Reve in a pulsating international finish to the Group One Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes (1,200m) at Royal Ascot on Saturday. The Jerome Reynier-trained four-year-old enjoyed a fast break and landed in the lead early under Wathnan's top jockey, James Doyle. From there, the writing was firmly on the wall, with the Territories gelding being a top-level winner over the 1,800m distance. The pair kept on galloping relentlessly and although Satono Reve – who has chased home Ka Ying Rising twice this year – loomed up with menace, the Japanese star was never quite getting there. It was ultimately a cosy success for the now two-time Group One winner, with Reynier never worried about his star being caught. LAZZAT WINS THE QUEEN ELIZABETH II JUBILEE STAKES! 🏆 #ROYALASCOT — At The Races (@AtTheRaces) June 21, 2025 'The Japanese [horse] made a late challenge and it was pretty tough, but James knew that he was never going to get beaten. He had plenty in his hands and he was very confident he was going to be able to bring him to the post,' said Reynier. 'He had a really good feeling on him today over this six-furlong straight. He's unbeaten over straight courses, so now we can stick him to this kind of competition and there's a nice European programme for him.' The win completed a double on the day for jockey Doyle, who won the opening Listed Chesham Stakes (1,800m) on the Andrew Balding-trained Humidity – again for Wathnan. Elsewhere on the card, last year's Group One Champions & Chater Cup (2,400m) winner Rebel's Romance added another notch to his belt with a dominant win in the Group Two Hardwicke Stakes (2,400m). HK Racing News Get updates direct to your inbox Sign up Best Bets Racing News By registering you agree to our T&Cs & Privacy Policy Error: Please enter a valid email. The email address is already in use. Please login to subscribe. Error, please try again later. THANK YOU You are one the list. The $2.1 favourite always travelled well just in front of midfield and as the field turned for home, William Buick made his move and the pair powered into the lead – one that proved to be unassailable. CHARLIE APPLEBY'S WAIT FOR A #ROYALASCOT WINNER IS OVER! REBEL'S ROMANCE TAKES THE HARDWICKE STAKES! — At The Races (@AtTheRaces) June 21, 2025 The global superstar has won in England, the United Arab Emirates, Germany, the United States and Hong Kong, but this victory was made even sweeter as it snapped a three-year losing sequence for Charlie Appleby at the Royal meeting. 'What more can I say about him? If I've got to talk about Rebel's Romance to people, they don't follow racing. Everyone knows him and loves him,' said Appleby. 'He's more than our iron horse, he's our stable favourite and he always will be. It's been a tough week but it's a week you've got to enjoy because I know how hard it is to get horses here. To win with them is just a bonus. 'I was taught early on in my career to make sure you applaud every winner here because they are richly deserved by whoever owns, trains or rides. It's the equine Olympics.'
