Whirl’s masterclass sends Arc odds spinning as Godolphin’s Ombudsman looms large

The Irish Derby Festival continued in sensational style on Saturday as Whirl, Aidan O’Brien’s relentless front-runner, dug deep to land the Group 1 Paddy Power Pretty Polly Stakes in a race that may have shaped the picture for Europe’s biggest prize: the Qatar Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe.

In a thrilling battle that had racegoers on their feet, Whirl repelled a late charge from the Juddmonte contender Kalpana in a two-horse duel that echoed the drama of this year’s Epsom Oaks. But it was the Coolmore filly who found more under Ryan Moore, confirming her toughness and class in a defining performance that saw her Arc odds slashed in half.

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Now joint-favourite for October’s Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe at ParisLongchamp, Whirl sits at the top of the market at 10-1, joined by stablemate Lambourn and Godolphin’s emerging star Ombudsman on 12/1, adding a touch of Dubai intrigue to what promises to be a titanic international clash.

The Godolphin colt Ombudsman, trained by John Gosden and his son Thady, shares the Arc spotlight as anticipation builds for Europe’s most coveted middle-distance contest.

“This filly is the ultimate racing machine,” said an elated Aidan O’Brien after securing his sixth win in the Pretty Polly. “She’s come back from a mile and a half and had to outstay one of the best rivals around. Ryan got it spot on, it was pure heart and strategy.”

Relentless Head-to-Head

The race was a spectacle. Moore and Colin Keane locked in a relentless head-to-head from the turn-in, with Whirl showing once again why she’s a serious Arc contender. Survie ran a strong race for third but was always a step behind the front two.

Meanwhile, two renowned Dubai-based sponsors added sparkle to Saturday’s undercard, reinforcing the emirate’s growing imprint on international flat racing.

The Jebel Ali Racecourse and Stables Anglesey Stakes (Group 3), a sprint test for precocious two-year-olds over 6½ furlongs, was won stylishly by the Ger Lyons-trained Suzie Songs, confirming her status as one to watch.

Shortly after, the spotlight shifted to the Al Basti Equiworld, Dubai International Stakes (Group 3), run in honour of legendary Irish trainer Kevin Prendergast. That contest, stretching 1 mile and 2 furlongs for older horses, saw Trustyourinstinct, trained by Joseph O’Brien, produce a well-timed run to land a competitive renewal.

Together, these races underscored Dubai’s deepening ties with global flat racing, and set the stage perfectly for Sunday’s showpiece: the 160th running of the Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby.

As attention turns to Day 3 undercurrents from Saturday’s Pretty Polly shake up not just the domestic scene but also the European flat racing narrative, and for Dubai-based owners and fans, Ombudsman’s continued rise offers a compelling story of its own.