Gosden decides against Breeders’ Cup for Ombudsman

Having impressed so much in winning the Champion Stakes at Ascot on Saturday, Gosden, who trains with his son Thady, confirmed that he was in line to step up to a mile and a half for the first time.

However, the master of Clarehaven has now decided that the race will come too soon, but he has raised the possibility of a crack at the Japan Cup.

Gosden told the Press Association: “It’s very simple, the horse ran four days ago at Ascot and he would have to work tomorrow, get on a plane for a cross-Atlantic flight, quarantine and it’s not fair to ask him to do that then ask him to run back within 14 days with a long journey in the middle.

“In fairness, we felt having discussed it with everyone, we shouldn’t be trying to do that with him after he ran such a brilliant race in the Champion Stakes and we could consider the Japan Cup now.

“There’s plenty of time to that now in November, but to rush him over to America and put him through that we didn’t think was in the best interests of the horse.”

He went on: “Japan would be a tentative plan and no more than that. It’s the only other race this year he could really run in and an important international race, so to that extent it’s a tentative plan.

“After that we’re probably talking retirement and it would have been nice to go to America, we wanted to go and do it because we like the Breeders’ Cup a lot, but the horse has to come first.”

Diamond Necklace has been nominated for the Turf after she finished third in the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe but from a wide draw she lost very little in defeat.

She still has the option of running against her own sex in the Filly & Mare Turf over nine and a half furlongs but with Aidan O’Brien favouring Precise for that race, he is likely to split his aces.

The Turf is a race the Europeans tend to dominate and with the likes of Bay City Roller, Tiffany, Survie and last year’s winner Ethical Diamond they once again have a strong hand.

Blue Bolt has been a revelation this season for Andrew Balding, she has the option of taking on the boys in the Mile or stepping up in trip for the Filly & Mare Turf.

Charlie Appleby’s six-time Group One winner Notable Speech won the Mile last year and will be back to defend his crown with Ten Bob Tony also in the mix. Qirat is third reserve in that race.

Comanche Brave has been brilliant this season for Donnacha O’Brien since stepping back in trip, winning the July Cup and the Flying Five. He heads the Europeans in the Turf Sprint along with Karl Burke’s Prix de l’Abbaye winner Miss Yechance .

“She has been an absolute revelation since coming to me early this summer,” Burke said. “She’s just kept on progressing and, although we don’t do a lot with her at home, she seems to have improved again since her last win at Longchamp.

“I think she’s going to run a big race in the Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint at Keeneland. She was beaten by the likely favourite Bacio at Royal Ascot, but she’s improved enormously since then, and her win at York in August was in a quicker time than Bacio’s Nunthorpe victory there.

“She’s uncomplicated, so tough and a battler and seems versatile on most surfaces.”

Miss Yechance will also be offered for sale at the third Keeneland Championship Sale on the Wednesday, before the Breeders’ Cup.

Folsom Blues and Great Barrier Reef are on the list for the Juvenile Turf along with Avec Toi from France, while Sun Goddess is set to clash with Amusingly in the Juvenile Fillies Turf.

Libertango is among the possibles for the Juvenile Turf Sprint, but Rebecca Menzies’ Adonius looks highly unlikely to get a run as he is just sixth reserve despite winning a race in America already.