Ombudsman wins Champion Stakes at Ascot as pre race favourite

Pre race favourite Ombudsman won the feature Qatar Racing Champion Stakes at Ascot on Saturday. Radiokerry.ie, The Guardian and UA.NEWS all reported the victory. The Guardian and UA.NEWS noted that Ombudsman defeated rival runner Calandagan to claim the win in the feature race on Champions Day. [1][2][4]

The Guardian reported that the victory reversed the form from the previous year's Champion Stakes. Radiokerry.ie added that the race was trained by the Gosden team, as noted by The Guardian and Sky Sports. [1][2][3]

In other action at the meet, Aidan O'Brien's dual classic winner Minnie Hauk won the British Champions Fillies & Mares Stakes. Radiokerry.ie reported that this marked O'Brien's first Group One triumph on British Champions Day since 2019. The 42 also highlighted O'Brien's successful day at the track. [1][5]

Ombudsman is an Irish champion Thoroughbred racehorse that debuted as a three-year-old in June 2024 at Newmarket. He ended his 2024 season undefeated in four races before claiming later victories at the Prince of Wales's Stakes and International Stakes, achieving a top Longines World's Best Racehorse rating of 128. [7]

Ascot Racecourse is located in Berkshire, England, roughly 25 miles west of London. The track hosts 13 of Great Britain's 36 annual Flat Group 1 races. [8]