Night Of Thunder’s superb son Ombudsman demonstrated a blistering turn of foot on the Knavesmire to land the £1.3 million Juddmonte International Stakes on Wednesday, 20 August.
While fellow Godolphin runner Birr Castle (Cloth Of Stars) set a blistering pace up front, Ombudsman was always travelling well under William Buick. As the field reeled in the pacemaker inside the final two furlongs, he flew to the front and eventually won by three and a half lengths from Delacroix (Dubawi), with Birr Castle completing the Darley-sired trifecta.
Ombudsman is a wonderfully consistent performer, winning or placing in all eight of his starts. He added a first G1 to his record at this year’s Royal Ascot, landing the Prince Of Wales’s Stakes before being denied just a neck by Delacroix in the Eclipse.
Bred by James Hanly, Ombudsman is out of the dual winner Syndicate (Dansili), a full sister to Group winner Runnymede. She also has a Night Of Thunder two-year-old filly, named Synchronicity.
His victory capped off a brilliant day at York for his sire, following Gewan’s win the G3 Acomb Stakes earlier on the card.
Night Of Thunder now holds a clear lead in the UK/ IRE sires’ Championship and has four G1 winners so far this year including Ombudsman, together with 1,000 Guineas heroine Desert Flower and US top-flight winners Choisya and Dynamic Pricing.
Night Of Thunder is available to cover on southern hemisphere time – if you are interested in sending him a mare then please contact the Nominations team.
