Royal Ascot Day Two Review: Ombudsman Dazzles As O’Brien Reaches A Royal Milestone

Day two of Royal Ascot had plenty to live up to after the drama of Tuesday, but it wasted little time in delivering another memorable afternoon.

The opening Queen Mary Stakes saw Aidan O’Brien move a step closer to history as Victorious justified favouritism to land the juvenile fillies’ contest and hand the Ballydoyle trainer his 99th Royal Ascot winner.

Ryan Moore always looked confident aboard the well-backed filly, who showed both class and determination to fend off Senorita Bonita in the closing stages.

What made the performance even more remarkable was the story behind it. Victorious is blind in her left eye, something O’Brien revealed after the race.

“I’m delighted. She has a big team round. She’s a filly with one eye, so she’s always been lacking a bit of confidence. She has no sight in her left eye, but we knew she was very good.

“Ryan gave her a beautiful ride. She’s incredible and we always knew she was classy.”

Moore was equally enthusiastic about the winner.

“She’s a gorgeous filly and we think the world of her. She’s very talented.”

While Victorious took the headlines, Senorita Bonita emerged with plenty of credit in second. Trainer Simon Crisford was already looking ahead to future targets after what he described as a “super race”.

Joseph O’Brien Strikes Again

The Queen’s Vase provided another gripping finish and another success for the O’Brien family, although this time it was Joseph rather than Aidan celebrating.

For a few moments it appeared Del Maro had stolen the race up the rail, but the judge’s verdict went the way of Limestone after a dramatic photo finish.

Dylan Browne McMonagle continued what is becoming a remarkable season with another big-race success, producing Limestone at exactly the right moment to deny his rival.

“I was happy to follow, but there was no speed so I was happy to let him stride along because he’s a big galloper with a lovely cruising speed,” said the rider.

“He’s always winning by margins but he’s always doing enough and that’s what you want from these staying horses. They just do enough and keep progressing, and he’s definitely one of them.”

The performance suggested Limestone could develop into a serious staying prospect as the season unfolds.

Blue Bolt Powers Clear

The Duke of Cambridge Stakes may have looked competitive on paper, but Blue Bolt turned it into a surprisingly straightforward assignment.

Colin Keane secured a dream position throughout before asking his mount to quicken entering the final furlong. The response was immediate and decisive.

Blue Bolt surged clear with an electric turn of foot to score in impressive fashion, leaving Jancis and Friendly Soul to battle for the minor honours behind her.

“She’s a lovely filly,” said Keane afterwards.

“Last year she came a long way in a short space of time and was second in the Falmouth. She’s a bigger, stronger filly this year and hopefully she can keep progressing.”

It was Keane’s first winner of the week and another reminder of just how effective he can be on the biggest stages.

Ombudsman Produces A Performance To Remember

The feature race of the afternoon, the Prince of Wales’s Stakes, had been billed as a clash between Ombudsman and Arc winner Daryz.

What followed felt less like a duel and more like a statement.

With the pacemakers stretching the field turning for home, there was briefly a sense that several runners still had a chance. Then William Buick pressed the button.

Within seconds the race was over.

Ombudsman unleashed a devastating turn of foot, sweeping past his rivals and powering clear in one of the standout performances seen at Royal Ascot in recent years. Minnie Hauk ran a huge race to finish second, while Daryz was left chasing shadows in third.

Buick could barely contain his admiration afterwards.

“He really is [right up there with one of Godolphin’s greatest]. I’m privileged to be able to ride these horses and I know I say it a lot, but this horse is an absolute privilege and a joy to ride and deal with.

“What he did there was mind-blowing. His turn of foot is incredible. He’s got the turn of foot of a miler, but he stays ten furlongs.”

Trainer John Gosden was equally impressed.

“Ombudsman has a phenomenal turn of foot, great acceleration for a mile and a quarter horse and he just showed that class, to suddenly come away from a field like that.

“I thought overall it was one of the great performances of his career.”

It was the sort of display that leaves racegoers talking long after the horses have returned to the stables.

Big Prices And Emotional Winners

The Royal Hunt Cup once again delivered a result few saw coming.

Rogue Diplomat stormed home at 28-1 to provide trainer James Owen and jockey Harry Davies with their first Royal Ascot winner, sparking emotional celebrations afterwards.

“It’s amazing. Our first winner here, it’s unbelievable,” said Owen.

“I thought it would never happen.”

There was a more predictable outcome in the Kensington Palace Stakes, where William Haggas finally got off the mark for the week as Alobayyah justified favouritism under Tom Marquand.

Miss Nightfall made the winner work hard all the way to the line, but Alobayyah always looked to have enough in reserve when it mattered most.

The meeting concluded with another success for the O’Brien operation as King Of Cloughan caused a 33-1 surprise in the Windsor Castle Stakes.

Billy Loughnane continued his excellent week with a confident ride and was quick to praise trainer Joseph O’Brien afterwards.

“Joseph is a genius. He’s having so many winners this week and he’s just prepping these horses so well. He made my job very easy today.”

As the sun set on another outstanding day at Ascot, attention inevitably centred on Ombudsman. Victorious had brought Aidan O’Brien to the brink of a century of Royal Ascot winners, Joseph O’Brien continued his excellent week and several new names enjoyed career-defining moments.

But it was Ombudsman’s breathtaking burst of acceleration in the Prince of Wales’s Stakes that ensured day two belonged to one horse above all others.