Two of the stars from the recent Royal Ascot meeting – Ombudsman and Field Of Gold – have both been hiked up the ratings after their impressive wins in the Prince Of Wales’s and St James’s Palace Stakes – there is now just 2lbs between the two John Gosden-trained horses.
Ombudsman Official Rating Raised To 128 After Prince Of Wales’s Stakes Romp
The Godolphin-owned 4 year-old Ombudsman was the star of day two at Royal Ascot, when destroying a good field in the Group One Prince Of Wales’s Stakes (watch below).
This son of Night Of Thunder powered home by an impressive two lengths from last season’s Champion Stakes winner Anmaat. With the 2024 Irish Derby winner Los Angeles back in fifth.
As a result – Ombudsman, who is trained by John and Thady Gosden, saw his official rating hiked up from 117 to a new mark of 128 – an 11lb increase.
The Royal Ascot win in the Prince Of Wales’s Stakes was also Godolphin’s sixth with Ombudsman following in the footsteps of past ‘boys in blue’ greats like Dubai Millennium and Fantastic Light.
While the victory also gave John Gosden his sixth success in the race and his second since sharing the license with son Thady.
Having won the 2023 running with Mostahdaf as a father and son duo.
Where Next For Ombudsman?
At this stage the Coral-Eclipse Stakes at Sandown could be on the cards for Ombudsman next, with the best horse racing betting sites in the UK making him 2/1 in the betting behind stablemate Field Of Gold.
But despite having different owners – with both horses trained by Gosden there is more chance they will be kept apart for now.
The fly in the ointment for Ombudsman and forgotten horse could be Almaqam, who finished 1 3/4 lengths ahead of the Godolphin runner at Sandown in the Brigadier Gerard Stakes at Sandown in May.
Field Of Gold Rated 126 – The Same As His Sire Kingman – After St James’s Palace Win
A day before Ombudsman hit the Royal Ascot headlines another top-class John Gosden horse had his moment in the sun – when Field Of Gold was a facile winner of the St James’s Palace Stakes on day one.
This fast-improving grey added this Group One to his Irish 2000 Guineas win earlier in the season and looks one of the best milers on the planet at the moment.
The win saw Field Of Gold’s official rating shoot up from 123 to 126. Which is the same mark as his classy sire (dad) Kingman got when he also won the St James’s Palace Stakes in 2014.
That day Kingman beat Night Of Thunder, who is actually Ombudsman’s sire. Meaning there are family connections all over the place.
Field Of Gold’s win in the St James’s Palace Stakes was John Gosden’s fourth in the race and witnessed by an increased Royal Ascot attendance in 2025.
Where Next For Field Of Gold?
As already mentioned, Field Of Gold vs Ombudsman is the race most racing fans want to see after their Royal Ascot wins.
However, the pair seem more likely to avoid each other. While don’t forget there is a year between the two.
As Field Of Gold is still a 3 year-old and Ombudsman is aged 4.
With Field Of Gold expected to stay over a mile and head to the Sussex Stakes at Glorious Goodwood on Wednesday 30th July.
The best betting sites in the UK are making Field Of Gold as short as Evs for the Group One race. Which is yet another prize his sire Kingman also won in 2014.
Ombudsman and Field Of Gold Still Rated 12lbs and 14lbs Behind The Mighty Frankel
Despite their hefty rises up the ranks, both Ombudsman and Field Of Gold’s official ratings are still some way off the mighty Frankel.
Frankel is regarded as the best racehorse this century after winning all 14 of his career starts between 2010 and 2012.
He was trained by the late Sir Henry Cecil and managed to rise up the ranks from a mark of 123 to end his career with an official rating of 140.
Meaning Ombudsman is still 12lbs below Frankel and Field Of Gold is 14lbs inferior.
Frankel retired at the end of 2012 – winning £2,998,302 in prize money. He now stands at the Banstead Manor Stud for £350,000.
