Ombudsman is set to attempt becoming the first horse in over three decades to successfully defend the Prince of Wales’s Stakes title in the race scheduled for today. The last horse to achieve consecutive victories in this event was Muhtarram, who won in 1994 and 1995 under jockey Willie Carson.

The five-year-old colt, trained by John and Thady Gosden, claimed the Prince of Wales’s Stakes last year with a strong late surge under William Buick. He has maintained his form, coming off a resilient win over Gethin at Sandown in May. The Gosden stable reported that Ombudsman remains in excellent shape ahead of his anticipated meeting with this year’s Arc winner, Daryz.

Thady Gosden commented on his horse’s preparation, noting that Ombudsman had a brief period of rest following his victory in the Dubai Turf. The colt then delivered a solid performance in the Brigadier Gerard Stakes, defeating a competitive rival in Gethin. “It looks a very hot Prince of Wales’s Stakes, with Daryz running, but Ombudsman has done well since Sandown and goes there in good form,” Gosden added.

Daryz, trained by French champion Francis-Henri Graffard, is positioned as Ombudsman’s chief rival in the race. Graffard expressed confidence in his horse’s conditioning, stating that Daryz is meeting all expectations leading up to the event. “I built his programme around this race and he is exactly where we want him to be,” he said.

The encounter between Ombudsman and Daryz is widely anticipated, as both horses seek to solidify their reputations at this prestigious Royal Ascot meeting.