In the steps of Ghaiyyath? Ombudsman continues winning streak with hard-fought Group 3 success

Ombudsman overcame a slow pace and a slightly wayward path up the home straight on the tacky ground to preserve his unbeaten record when holding off Start Of Day to win the Group 3 Prix du Prince d'Orange. 

John and Thady Gosden had stepped Godolphin's Night Of Thunder colt up from two wins in novice company to take the Listed Prix Nureyev at Deauville last month, when William Buick was able to capitalise on an unusually fierce pace.

The scenario here was much more textbook French and Buick said: "At halfway you were relying on things to happen from where I was. Luckily, they did happen. He'll be far better off a stronger pace. Every horse is better on better ground but he did it again today and I think he won with a good bit up his sleeve."

Godolphin struck with Ghaiyyath in this race in 2018 and, while Buick wasn't so bold as to predict a similar future for Ombudsman, the three-year-old clearly looks promising. 

Buick said: "I don't think we can stand here and say how far he'll go. He's gone so far already, so I see no reason why he won't go further. He's a great-to-look-at individual."

The stewards held a lengthy inquiry before confirming Ombudsman the winner, while Buick was suspended for two days for not making sufficient effort to keep his mount straight. 

Certain Lad gives Channon and Bass a day in the sun

Certain Lad gave both Jack Channon and George Bass their first Group-race success when staying on strongly to defeat Prix Ganay winner Haya Zark in the Coupe de Maisons-Laffitte.

At the age of eight, Certain Lad is in the form of his life and he was adding to his Listed success at Compiegne in June.

Jack Channon poses with Certain Lad after winning La Coupe de Maisons-Laffitte at LongchampCredit: Racing Post/Burton

"He was always a good horse, he won the Strensall as a four-year-old but had a couple of nasty injuries at five and six," said Channon. "This is the first year he's come into a season with no injury. He’s sound and well, and a happy horse. He’s got a great mind and is easy to train because he wants to do it."

Channon added: "The two races for him are the Preis von Europa over a mile and a half or the Prix Dollar. I think I’ll probably lean towards the Prix Dollar, but I’d love to run him in a Group 1 at some stage.

"He’ll stay in training at nine and we’ll see if he retains the same zest. We might have a look at something like the Prix Ganay at the start of the year. He’s an eight-year-old and I won’t have too much longer with him, so we won’t mess around, we’ll run him in some nice races."

Giving weight away all round in this Group 3, Haya Zark set himself up for a career swansong in the Arc when running on past Al Mubhir for second.

Trainer Adrien Fouassier said: "My fear beforehand was the weight differential and we've been beaten fair and square by a good horse. He needed the run and I'm not disappointed. Christophe [Soumillon] didn't knock him about too much and he finished off his race well."

Harbour Wind run down by Sevenna's Knight

Owners OTI Racing had committed beforehand to a tilt at the Arc with Sevenna's Knight if conditions come up soft at Longchamp for the first Sunday in October, and he certainly gave them every encouragement when defying a 4lb penalty to run down his rivals in the Group 3 1m7½f Prix Gladiateur

Harbour Wind and Chris Hayes were run down late by Sevenna's Knight in the Prix Gladiateur Credit: CAROLINE NORRIS

It was only in the final furlong that Moyglare Stud's Melbourne Cup entry Harbour Wind was overhauled and trainer Dermot Weld expressed satisfaction with the lightly raced four-year-old's run off a 78-day break.

"He’s run a very good race," said Weld. "In that ground, it’s probably as far as he wants to go. He’s tried hard, he’s run well and he looked like he was going to win a furlong down. 

"The ground is probably a little bit slower than we'd like, because he's won on firm ground. He’s been a long time between races and I think he’ll come on for it."

Weld was in no rush to confirm the Melbourne Cup plan for Harbour Wind, adding: "We’ll think about it. I’ll have a chat with his owner, Eva-Maria Bucher-Haefner, and we’ll go from there."

Read these next:

'It's Tribalist, not the trainer. He's just good' - Andre Fabre praises surprise Moulin hero as Charyn runs out of road 

'He's such a special horse' - Quinault completes another remarkable winning run with Listed race hat-trick 

Stream Of Stars shows old sparkle to make it three wins from six starts after 986 days off the track 

The Front Runner is our unmissable email newsletter available exclusively to Members' Club Ultimate subscribers. Chris Cook, the reigning Racing Writer of the Year, provides his take on the day's biggest stories and tips for the upcoming racing every morning from Monday to Friday. Not a Members' Club Ultimate subscriber? Click here to join today and also receive our Ultimate Daily emails plus our full range of fantastic website and newspaper content