Ombudsman will be freshened for Breeders' Cup Turf

Ombudsman, winner of the Group 1 Juddmonte International, will skip a start in next week's Irish Champion Stakes (G1) and be pointed to Royal Ascot and the Breeders' Cup Turf.

The decision dashes hopes for a rematch between the John and Thady Gosden trainee and Delacroix, who Ombudsman defeated by 3 1/2 lengths in the Juddmonte International at York. Before that, Aidan O'Brien Delacroix bested Ombudsman by a neck in the Coral-Eclipse (G1) at Sandown Park.

John Gosden said Ombudsman will be "freshened up for an autumn campaign targeting the Champion Stakes at Ascot, the Breeders’ Cup and the Japan Cup," according to a Racing Post report.

He noted that the 4-year-old colt raced in May, June, July and August, winning the Prince of Wales's (G1) in addition to the Juddmonte International and finishing second in the Brigadier Gerard Stakes (G3) in addition to the Coral-Eclipse. Ombudsman earned a berth in the Breeders' Cup Turf with his win in the Prince of Wale's and a spot Breeders' Cup Classic with his win in the Juddmonte International. Overall, he has a record of 8: 6-2-0.

Ombudsman was the 3-2 favorite for the Irish Champion, but Gosden said it would not be in the colt's best interest to run. The Gosden stable has won the Irish Champion four times, most recently with Roaring Lion in 2018.