Having already cemented his status as a Godolphin great, Ombudsman will end his stellar career on the global stage when tackling the Japan Cup later this month. Joint-trainers John and Thady Gosden elected against a Breeders' Cup run after his Champion Stakes victory, but he will now tackle a mile and a half for the first time in Tokyo on November 29 before stallion duties await at Darley's Kildangan Stud in Ireland in 2027. However, win, lose or draw in the Far East, Godolphin's managing director Hugh Anderson believes his legacy has already been secured and he will go down as "one of the best" to represent Sheikh Mohammed's operation on the racetrack.
He told the Press Association that John is a master trainer with his eye firmly on the prize. Ombudsman's career has been a model of his kind and he has been beautifully trained. There have been a lot of great racehorses in Godolphin's history but Ombudsman is one of the best because of the quality of the Group Ones he has won.
He is right up there in the pecking order with two Prince of Wales's Stakes at Royal Ascot, the Juddmonte International Stakes and a Champion Stakes. Ombudsman is likely to face his old foe and defending champion Calandagan in Japan as the five-time Group One winner attempts to become the first British-trained winner since Alkaased 21 years ago and also land a $5million bonus he is eligible for after his recent Ascot strike. It would cap a fine year for the global operation, who have recently seen Sovereignty provide them with a first Breeders' Cup Classic in Keeneland.
Source: Sky Sports Champions League · Summarized by HeadlinesBriefing