Buick: Ombudsman’s Juddmonte International win was ‘mighty performance’

William Buick – who rode six winners at the Sky Bet Ebor Festival – has saluted the victory of the Godolphin-owned Ombudsmanin the Juddmonte International Stakes. 

The Night of Thunder colt’s success over main market rival Delacroix came in dramatic fashion, as it looked at one stage as if Ombudsman’s pacemaker Birr Castle may have pinched the race from the front having been well clear at halfway. 

However, Ombudsman quickened clear in the final two furlongs in impressive fashion to record his second Group 1 success and his sixth career victory. 

Buick told Nick Luck on his Luck On Sunday programme: “We were all a bit surprised how it panned out - that wasn't the plan. 

“We all expected Danon Decile to have the spot in behind the pacemaker, but it wasn't to be. 

“But Ombudsman was very impressive at the end, and he picked up his pacemaker easily and when he went past him, he had another gear. 

“He quickened two or three times over the last quarter of a mile, so it was a very, very impressive performance.” 

The margin of victory on the Knavesmire was three and a half lengths, a significant turnaround from the neck that separated Ombudsman and Delacroix when the last-named emerged victorious in the Coral-Eclipse at Sandown last month. 

Buick explained: “The Juddmonte was a more even pace and it was nothing like the Eclipse - that was such a hard race to assess. 

“It was close after Royal Ascot and he had more time before York. 

“He put up a mighty performance there.” 

Further Group success at York for another John & Thady Gosden-trained Godolphin runner came with Trawlerman who backed up his impressive Ascot Gold Cup success with a hard-fought win in Friday’s Lonsdale Cup. 

Buick was full of praise for the seven-year-old: “He seems better than last year – he's taking his races better and maybe I'm understanding him a bit better and playing to his strengths a bit more. 

“He’s just a joy to be around, he wears his heart on his sleeve and just gallops away. He’s a very solid horse and the best stayer around. 

“He was an Ebor winner and seems to be getting better at the age of seven!” 

Though Trawlerman was ridden by Frankie Dettori when he won the 2022 Ebor, Buick was able to emulate the Italian when guiding the Willie Mullins-trained Ethical Diamond to a comfortable success in Saturday’s race. 

The win was a first in the historic handicap for Buick, who was full of praise for the winning trainer. He said: “The Ebor is a very hard race to win – it was my first in it – and to get the call from Willie [Mullins, trainer] means that you're in business. 

“They’re very well prepared for their assignment - when Willie sends them over for race like the Cesarewitch or Royal Ascot or the Ebor, that’s usually been the target for some time. 

“From my perspective that's a huge thing - and his horses are good!” 

Buick is predicting a bright future for Ethical Diamond, who looks set to go up in grade for his next assignment: “He is a super straightforward horse who ticked every race for the Ebor. 

“I think he seems to be on the right trajectory to be a ‘cup horse’. I think he will be up in grade for sure. 

“He stayed the Ebor trip well and has that good turn of foot at the end which for stayers can set them apart from others.” 

Buick also recorded handicap victories with Fifth Column in the Sky Bet Mile Handicap and Royal Velvet in the British EBF Fillies' Handicap but was most taken by the success of another regal runner – Royal Fixation – in Thursday's Sky Bet Lowther Stakes. 

The Ed Walker-trained daughter of Palace Pier is now ready for a further rise in grade according to the rider: “Shes not the biggest but she has a big heart and is very straightforward. 

“The first and second set a good standard and she’s a pretty smart filly who I think will go on to better things. 

“She deserves her place in the Cheveley Park and she's getting better, she's improving, and that was only her third start.”