Breeders’ Cup swansong possible for Ombudsman

Godolphin is weighing a final start at the Breeders’ Cup Turf for British Champion Stakes winner Ombudsman before he retires to stud.

The five-year-old son of champion sire Night Of Thunder won Saturday’s Champion Stakes at Ascot by three and three-quarter lengths from six-time Group 1 winner Calandagan in front of more than 32,000 spectators.

Co-trainer John Gosden and Godolphin will determine whether Ombudsman travels to Keeneland for the US$5 million race on Saturday week.

“John is as cool as a cucumber about the decision because he takes everything in his stride, but the reality is that the Breeders’ Cup is the week after next,” Godolphin managing director Hugh Anderson told the Racing Post.

“It’s always a sad moment to see the curtain come down on the career of a great athlete, but he’s going to be a very valuable stallion. He’s a brilliant racehorse and what will be, will be. I’m confident John will make the right decision.”

Ombudsman has won 10 of 14 starts and earned more than £5.5 million, with his major victories including consecutive Prince of Wales’s Stakes wins, the Juddmonte International, Dubai Turf and Champion Stakes.