Godolphin unveiled a new potential star in the shape of Ombudsman at Longchamp on Sunday, successful in the ten furlong Group 3 Prix du Prince d’Orange.
The John and Thady Gosden-trained colt came into the race unbeaten after three previous starts, including a Listed victory in the Prix Nureyev at Deauville in August. A son of Night Of Thunder, the colt had previously demonstrated his abilities with victories in novice company at both Leicester and Newmarket's July Course.
Despite suffering some trouble in running with two-and-a-half furlongs to run, Ombudsman powered to the front in the closing stages under William Buick and arguably shaped better than the half-length winning distance would suggest. Start Of Day finished second with Supercooled back in third.
In an interview with Sky Sports Racing, Buick said: "I don't think anything suited him today, it was a slow pace and I was in a pocket which obviously opened up in the straight and helped him. But I think he is a horse who prefers a high tempo and he can quicken off that.
"Today he just didn't get the chance to show his best qualities and the ground is very tacky so I don't think you are going to see a brilliant performance as such.
"He was a little bit green and caught by surprise a couple of times. He was favouring the rail and then came off it, but I think everyone was satisfied he was the best horse in the race and has still got a lot to learn.
"Again he has stepped up on what he has achieved previously and he has taken on some solid, seasoned horses who bring Prix du Jockey Club form so I was very pleased with him.
"He's got more improvement to come. John and Thady will get together with the team and decide where he goes next, but hopefully he is a horse who is going to be around for next year as well – he's four out of four and you can't fault him.
"It's hard to say (if he is a Group One horse), but he has taken two novices, a Listed, and this is now a Group Three so you would like to hope that is the trajectory he is on."
