Ombudsman narrowly shaded in G1 Eclipse Stakes

Ombudsman was collared in the shadow of the post by Delacroix in the G1 Eclipse Stakes, with Ruling Court running well to take third in a frenetic running of the Sandown Park highlight on Saturday, 5 July. 

Lining up 17 days after taking the G1 Prince Of Wales’s Stakes at Royal Ascot, Ombudsman broke smartly under William Buick and soon disputed third of the six runners on the outside of Delacroix as Sosie and Hotazhell disputed the running. 

This season’s G1 2,000 Guineas winner Ruling Court was held up in a clear last initially before being rushed up the inner rail by Oisin Murphy to dispute third alongside Ombudsman after the first two furlongs, with Delacroix shuffled back to fifth. 

Both Godolphin runners took different routes in the straight, as Ruling Court travelled strongly behind Sosie and Hotazhell down the inside, while Ombudsman loomed up on the outside of the leading duo entering the final quarter-mile. 

Ombudsman took up the running soon after and kicked into a clear lead over a furlong out, with Camille Pissarro launching his own short-lived challenge. 

Ruling Court had to wait for room before staying on after being switched out approaching the furlong-pole as Delacroix quickened powerfully from the rear down the outside of the field. 

Ombudsman appeared to have the measure of his rivals, despite drifting under pressure, although he could not resist the late lunge of Dubawi colt Delacroix, who grabbed the lead close home for a neck success. 

Ruling Court, representing Charlie Appleby, rallied late to take third from Camille Pissarro on the line, a length and three-quarters behind the front two. 

John Gosden said: “It didn’t turn out the way we thought, but that can happen in small fields, and Ombudsman has run a wonderful race. He was trapped rather wide and was close to the pace, whereas Delacroix was out the back and has run us down late. 

“It was one of those races where it can get messy but full marks to the winner, who has outstayed the lot of them. In the end, it was down to stamina.” 

Charlie Appleby said: “None of us expected the race to be run like that, and full credit to the winner. We can take a lot of positives from the run of Ruling Court – he was relaxed in the preliminaries and Oisin had to stay where he was in the race due to the early pace. 

“Ruling Court has done very little wrong in his career, having never finished out of the first three, and we will head to Deauville for the G2 Prix Guillaume d’Ornano in August.”