York’s Ebor Festival, a highlight of the British flat racing calendar, once again earned its reputation as the ‘Royal Ascot of the North’ with four days of top-tier racing and elegance.
Thousands of fans gathered at the historic Knavesmire to enjoy some of the best moments in thoroughbred racing, with Dubai-owned horses dominating the event.
Team Godolphin led the charge, continuing their impressive season with three wins, including two major feature races.
The standout performance was on the first day when Ombudsman, trained by John and Thady Gosden and ridden by William Buick, won the prestigious Juddmonte International Stakes (Group 1). This race, consistently rated among the world’s best, has seen past champions like Frankel, Sea The Stars, and Baaeed.
Ombudsman’s victory ensured Godolphin’s iconic blue banners proudly waved at the York racecourse, located on the city’s southwest edge.
Ombudsman, praised by rider William Buick as a ‘beautiful horse to ride, with high quality,’ joined an elite group by winning both the Prince of Wales’s Stakes and the Juddmonte International in the same year, alongside Nayef (2003) and Mostahdaf (2023).
Godolphin’s winning momentum continued with Trawlerman’s victory in the Lonsdale Cup (Group 2), adding to his impressive achievements, which include three major Group wins: the Group 1 Gold Cup, the Group 2 British Champions Long Distance Cup at Ascot, and the Group 3 Henry II Stakes at Sandown.
On Friday, Fifth Column secured the Mile Handicap, boosting Godolphin’s weekly win total to three. These successes highlight the stable’s strong global performance this season, with 76 Stakes wins in 2025, including 15 at Group 1 level.
Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum celebrated when Charlotte’s Web triumphed in the Sir Henry Cecil Galtres Stakes, a highlight of Ladies’ Day on Thursday.
The pinnacle for Dubai connections was on the final day when Never So Brave, owned by Dubai businessman Saeed Suhail, won the City of York Stakes (Group 1).
Trained by Andrew Balding and ridden by 2020 British Champion jockey Oisin Murphy, this win capped a brilliant week for Dubai-owned horses and added another prestigious trophy to Suhail’s collection, including past victories with Kris Kin (2003) and Desert Crown (2022).
Meanwhile, Dubai businessman Mahlih Al Basti continued his proud support of the Al Basti Equiworld Dubai Gimcrack Stakes (Group 2), showcasing the UAE’s commitment to British racing. Lifeplan won the race, with Sheikh Mohammed Obaid Al Maktoum’s Rock On Thunder finishing a close second.
The Ebor Festival maintained its status as a premier summer event and remains a major part of the British racing calendar, often producing winners who compete in international races like the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe in Paris and the Melbourne Cup in Australia.
