Prince Of Wales’s Stakes
 QuinnBet
Group 1, Ascot 16:20
£1,000,000 guaranteed,
4yo plus,
1m 1f 212y, Class 1    
Wednesday 18th June 2025

1 Ombudsman 7/1
2 Anmaat 5/1
3 See The Fire 7/2
8 ran NR: Certain Lad Distances: 2l, 2½l, 1¼l
Time: 2m 2.51s (fast by 1.89s)

In a race that required more nous than raw speed, it was Ombudsman who delivered the verdict with a thunderous late charge — and announce himself as a new force at the top table.

Held up stone cold by William Buick, the Godolphin colt had traffic to negotiate and time to make up, but when the gap finally came inside the final furlong, the response was instant and emphatic. Slicing through the gears like a switchblade through silk, he powered past Anmaat, last year’s QIPCO Champion Stakes hero, to win going away by two lengths.

The well-fancied See The Fire stuck on gamely for third, two and a half lengths further back, but Los Angeles, who tracked a searching gallop laid down by Continuous, faded into fifth – another favourite left with questions in the Ascot dust.

For John and Thady Gosden, this was win number five of the week and a landmark 70th Royal Ascot victory for John, but this one clearly hit a sweeter note. Ombudsman, now five from six and maturing with every step, delivered the kind of performance that leaves a trainer dreaming — and a field gasping.

“We knew the pace would be honest — it was made for a grinder like Los Angeles — but we were content to wait,” Gosden explained. “William was brave; he couldn’t swing out, so he sat tight and trusted the horse. When the seam came, the turn of foot was there, just as we’d hoped.”

There was praise, too, for Sheikh Mohammed’s patient ownership: “When we bought him, I told him this was a horse that needed time — and he gave us all the time we needed. Now he’s grown into himself, you’re seeing the reward.”

And while the Eclipse at Sandown looms on the horizon, Gosden was in no rush: “He hasn’t been overcooked, so we’ve options. He’s all speed over a mile and a quarter now — we’ll see how far that stretch can go.”

For Buick, it was yet another cool-hand ride on the big stage: “This place tames lions, but Ombudsman had the answers. He’d have been the unluckiest loser all week if he hadn’t got there. I had to switch a couple of times, but when I asked, he went. He’s got a huge engine and didn’t even hit top gear.”

Behind him, Anmaat lost nothing in defeat, with Owen Burrows summing it up fairly: “He came there to win — but was outkicked. No excuses. Possibly he travels a touch better with ease in the ground, but full credit to the winner. We’ll regroup and aim for autumn, probably back here in the Champion.”

As for See The Fire, it was a step forward in deep company. Oisin Murphy called it “a career-best,” adding that “the pace collapsed late and we just kept finding.”

But the final word, rightly, belonged to the winner. A colt once described as immature and in need of patience, now fully furnished, fully fearsome, and very much a Group 1 horse in full bloom. Ombudsman? Judgement delivered.

Prince Of Wales's Stakes (Group 1)
£1,000,000 guaranteed, 4yo plus, 1m 1f 212y, Class 1
8 ran
Going: Good to Firm, Good in places

POS. (DRAW) DIST HORSE AGE WGT TRAINER JOCKEY SP
1 (1)    Ombudsman 4 9-2 John & Thady Gosden William Buick 7/1
2 (8) 2 Anmaat 7 9-2 Owen Burrows Jim Crowley 5/1
3 (3) 2½ See The Fire 4 8-13 Andrew Balding Oisin Murphy 7/2
4 (2) 1¼ Map Of Stars 4 9-2 F-H Graffard James Doyle 13/2
5 (5) 1¼ Los Angeles 4 9-2 A P O'Brien Ryan Moore 13/8F
6 (4) 1¼ Facteur Cheval 6 9-2 J Reynier Flavien Prat 25/1
7 (6) shd Royal Champion 7 9-2 K R Burke Clifford Lee 25/1
8 (7) 20 Continuous 5 9-2 A P O'Brien Wayne Lordan 100/1
NR 2 (9) Certain Lad 9 9-2 Jack Channon NON RUNNER

SureWIn

THE PRINCE OF WALES’S STAKES
Past Results

2024-WINNER-AUGUSTE RODIN A P O'Brien Ryan Moore M Tabor & D Smith & Mrs J Magnier & Westerberg 4 9-02 13/8F

2023-WINNER-MOSTAHDAF John & Thady Gosden Jim Crowley Shadwell Estate Company Ltd 5 9-02 10/1

2022-WINNER-STATE OF REST Joseph O'Brien Shane Crosse State Of Rest Partnership 4 9-02 5/1

2021-WINNER-LOVE AP O'Brien Ryan Moore Michael Tabor & Derrick Smith & Mrs John Magnier 4 8-11 11/10F

2020-WINNER-LORD NORTH John Gosden James Doyle HH Sheikh Zayed bin Mohammed Racing 4-9-00 5/1

2019-WINNER-CRYSTAL OCEAN Sir Michael Stoute Frankie Dettori Sir Evelyn de Rothschild 5-9-00 3/1

2018-WINNER-POET'S WORD Sir Michael Stoute James Doyle Saeed Suhail 5-9-00 11/2

2017-WINNER-HIGHLAND REEL 5-9-00 Owner-Derrick Smith, Sue Magnier & Michael Tabor; Trainer-Aidan O’Brien IRE; Jockey-
Ryan Moore; SP-9/4
2ND-Decorated Knight 5-9-00 Owner-Saleh Al Homaizi & Imad Al Sagar; Trainer-Roger Charlton; Jockey-Andrea Atzeni; SP-10/1
3RD-Ulysses 4-9-00 Owner-Flaxman Stables Ireland Ltd; Trainer-Sir Michael Stoute; Jockey-Jim Crowley; SP-9/2
8 ran; Time-2m 5.04s; Dist-1¼, sh 2/1 Fav Jack Hobbs (8th)

2016-WINNER-MY DREAM BOAT 4-9-00 Owner-Paul & Clare Rooney; Trainer-Clive Cox; Jockey-Adam Kirby; SP-16/1
2ND-FOUND 4-8-11 Owner-Michael Tabor, Derrick Smith & Sue Magnier; Trainer-Aidan O’Brien IRE; Jockey-Ryan Moore; SP-4/1
3RD-Western Hymn 4-9-00 Owner-Robin Geffen & Rachel Hood; Trainer-John Gosden; Jockey-Frankie Dettori; SP-12/1
6 ran; Time-2m 11.38s; Dist-nk, 31⁄2 8/13 Fav A Shin Hikari (6th)

2015-WINNER-FREE EAGLE 4-9-00 Owner-Moyglare Stud; Trainer-Dermot Weld IRE; Jockey-Pat Smullen; SP-5/2 Fav
2ND-The Grey Gatsby 4-9-00 Owner-Frank Gillespie; Trainer-Kevin Ryan; Jockey-Jamie Spencer; SP-9/2
3RD-Western Hymn 4-9-00 Owner-Robin Geffen; Trainer-John Gosden; Jockey-Frankie Dettori; SP-8/1
9 ran; Time-2m 5.07s; Dist-sh, 23⁄4

2014-WINNER-THE FUGUE 5-8-11 Owner-Lord Lloyd-Webber; Trainer-John Gosden; Jockey-William Buick; SP-11/2
2ND-Magician 4-9-00 Owner-Michael Tabor, Derrick Smith & Sue Magnier; Trainer-Aidan O’Brien IRE; Jockey-Joseph O’Brien; SP-6/1
3RD-Treve 4-8-11 Owner-Al Shaqab Racing; Trainer-Criquette Head-Maarek FR; Jockey-Frankie Dettori; SP-8/13 Fav
8 ran; Time-2m 1.90s; Dist-13⁄4, 1

2013-WINNER-AL KAZEEM 5-9-00 Owner-John Deer; Trainer-Roger Charlton; Jockey-James Doyle; SP-11/4
2ND-Mukhadram 4-9-00 Owner-Hamdan Al Maktoum; Trainer-William Haggas; Jockey-Paul Hanagan; SP-14/1
3RD-The Fugue 4-8-11 Owner-Lord Lloyd-Webber; Trainer-John Gosden; Jockey-William Buick; SP-13/2
11 ran; Time-2m 3.06s; Dist-nk, 3¼ 5/2 Fav Camelot (4th)

2012-WINNER-SO YOU THINK 6-9-00 Owner- Smith/Magnier/Tabor/DatoTan/TunkuYahaya; Trainer-Aidan O’Brien IRE; Jockey-
Joseph O’Brien; SP-4/5F
2ND-Carlton House 4-9-00 Owner-The Queen; Trainer-Sir Michael Stoute; Jockey-Ryan Moore; SP-7/2
3RD-Farhh 4-9-00 Owner-Godolphin; Trainer-Saeed bin Suroor; Jockey-Frankie Dettori; SP-6/1
11 ran; Time-2m 3.86s; Dist-2¼, ½

2011-WINNER-REWILDING 4-9-00 Owner-Godolphin; Trainer Mahmood Al Zarooni; Jockey-Frankie Dettori; SP-17/2
2ND-So You Think 5-9-00 Owner-Smith/Magnier/Tabor/Dato Tan/Tunku Yahaya; Trainer-Aidan O’Brien IRE; Jockey-Ryan
Moore; SP-4/11 Fav
3RD-Sri Putra 5-9-00 Owner-H R H Sultan Ahmad Shah; Trainer-Roger Varian; Jockey-Neil Callan; SP-66/1
7 ran; Time-2m 4.24s; Dist-nk, 6

2010-WINNER-BYWORD 4-9-00 Owner-Khalid Abdullah; Trainer-Andre Fabre FR; Jockey-Maxime Guyon; SP-5/2 Fav
2ND-Twice Over 5-9-00 Owner-Khalid Abdullah; Trainer-Henry Cecil; Jockey-Tom Queally; SP-11/2
3RD-Tazeez 6-9-00 Owner-Hamdan Al Maktoum; Trainer-John Gosden; Jockey-Tadhg O’Shea; SP-40/1
12 ran; Time-2m 5.35s; Dist-½, ¾

2009-WINNER-VISION D’ETAT 4-9-00 Owner-Jacques Detre; Trainer-Eric Libaud FR; Jockey-Olivier Peslier; SP-4/1
2ND-Tartan Bearer 4-9-00 Owner-Ballymacoll Stud; Trainer-Sir Michael Stoute; Jockey-Ryan Moore; SP-6/4 Fav
3RD-Never On Sunday 4-9-00 Owner-Daniel-Yves Treves; Trainer-Jean Claude Rouget FR; Jockey-Christophe Lemaire;
SP-7/2
8 ran; Time-2m 6.90s; Dist-½, hd

2008-WINNER-DUKE OF MARMALADE 4-9-00 Owner-Sue Magnier & Michael Tabor; Trainer-Aidan O’Brien IRE; Jockey-
Johnny Murtagh; SP-Evens Fav
2ND-Phoenix Tower 4-9-00 Owner-Khalid Abdullah; Trainer-Henry Cecil; Jockey-Ted Durcan; SP-7/1
3RD-Pipedreamer 4-9-00 Owner-Cheveley Park Stud; Trainer-John Gosden; Jockey-Jimmy Fortune; SP-11/1
12 ran, Time-2m 5.35s, Dist-4, sh

2007-WINNER-MANDURO 5-9-00 Owner-Baron Georg von Ullmann; Trainer-Andre Fabre FR; Jockey-Stephane Pasquier;
SP-15/8 Fav
2ND-Dylan Thomas 4-9-00 Owner-Sue Magnier & Michael Tabor; Trainer-Aidan O’Brien IRE; Jockey-Christophe Soumillon;
SP-2/1
3RD-Notnowcato Owner-Anthony & David de Rothschild; Trainer-Sir Michael Stoute; Jockey-Johnny Murtagh; SP-13/2
6 ran, Time-2m 5.91s, Dist-1¼, 4

2006-WINNER-OUIJA BOARD 5-8-11 Owner-Lord Derby; Trainer-Ed Dunlop; Jockey-Olivier Peslier; SP-8/1
2ND-Electrocutionist 5-9-00 Owner-Godolphin; Trainer-Saeed bin Suroor; Jockey-Frankie Dettori; SP-9/4
3RD-Manduro 4-9-00 Owner-Baron Georg von Ullmann; Trainer-Andre Fabre FR; Jockey-Christophe Soumillon; SP-12/1
7 ran, Time-2m 6.92s, Dist-½, ¾ 11/8 Fav David Junior (4th)

2005-WINNER-AZAMOUR 4-9-00 Owner-H H Aga Khan; Trainer-John Oxx IRE; Jockey-Michael Kinane; SP-11/8 Fav
2ND-Ace 4-9-00 Owner-Sue Magnier, Michael Tabor & Mrs Harry McCalmont; Trainer-Aidan O’Brien IRE; Jockey-Kieren Fallon;
SP-7/1
3RD-Elvstroem 5-9-00 Owner-Elvstroem Syndicate; Trainer-Tony Vasil AUS; Jockey-Nash Rawiller; SP-11/1
8 ran Time-2m 8.15s Dist-1½, 5 (run at York)

2004-WINNER-RAKTI 5-9-00 Owner-Gary Tanaka; Trainer-Michael Jarvis; Jockey-Philip Robinson; SP-3/1
2ND-Powerscourt 4-9-00 Owner-Sue Magnier; Trainer-Aidan O’Brien IRE; Jockey-Jamie Spencer; SP-9/2
3RD-Ikhtyar 4-9-00 Owner-Hamdan Al Maktoum; Trainer-John Gosden; Jockey-Richard Hills; SP-8/1
10 ran Time-2m 04.95s Dist-2, ½ 11/4 Fav Sulamani (4th)

2003-WINNER-NAYEF 5-9-00 Owner-Hamdan Al Maktoum; Trainer-Marcus Tregoning; Jockey-Richard Hills; SP-5/1
2ND-Rakti 4-9-00 Owner-Gary Tanaka; Trainer-Michael Jarvis; Jockey-Phillip Robinson; SP-50/1
3RD-Islington 4-8-11 Owner-Exors of the late Lord Weinstock; Trainer-Sir Michael Stoute; Jockey-Kieren Fallon; SP-7/1
10 ran Time-2m 05.30s Dist-2½, 1 2/1 Fav Moon Ballad (9th)