FAHEY COLT HEADS TO ROYAL ASCOT’S QUEEN ANNE STAKES AS BIG FAVOURITE AFTER NEWBURY ROMP
ibchester dominated his rivals on all terms to give Godolphin an unparalleled eighth victory in the Group 1 Lockinge Stakes, the first of three major mile contests held on the British flat.
Ridden with supreme confidence by the stable’s retained rider, William Buick, Ribchester led all the way down the Newbury track to comfortably to cross the line 3¾ lengths clear of Lightning Spear, the mount of Oisin Murphy, with Brenton rock a further 2½ lengths back in third under Andrea Atzeni.
Toscanini, the mount of Paul Hanagan, who was expected to play the role of pacemaker for the winner missed the break and Buick had no option but to take his horse to the front of the eight horse field as the runners began to settle down.
However, Plan B posed no hardships for Buick who found an willing ally in the versatile Ribchester as he cut a solitary path to finish line, with his jockey punching the air in victory.
It was an eighth Lockinge for Godolphin since Cape Cross in 1998 and fourth in the last five years. But it was a first for both trainer Richard Fahey and Buick.
Rage in market
British bookmakers quickly cut Ribchester’s odds for next month’s Group 1 Queen Anne Stakes, Britain’s second major mile contest which precedes the season-ending Queen Elizabeth II Stakes, making him as low as 7-4 to win the showpiece race on the opening day at Royal Ascot.
“He’s a very good horse, very versatile,” Buick told Racing UK. “Richard and his team at home have done a fantastic job with him.
“He’s getting mentally better and physically stronger every day. If you are going to compete in these Group One races and be successful, you have to be the complete package,” he added.
“It means everything for His Highness Shaikh Mohammad [Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minsiter of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai]. To win Group 1 races likes these and to have Group 1 horses. This is what it’s all about.”
Fahey added: “It wasn’t really Plan A. In the end it’s worked out well for us.
“It looked good today. He’d had the run — a lot of the horses hadn’t had a run — so we were quite keen to make sure there was a decent gallop.
“Paul (Hanagan, aboard Toscanini) used his brains and kept out of it. That’s why I never give instructions to jockeys. “Plan A was to take a lead, it didn’t happen, so Plan B — it worked out well,” he added.
“It’s pure ability. I’ve been quoted before — this horse can go 0-35 in four strides. He’s got a lot of speed, a Ferrari engine. He’s won and everything’s gone great.”
Ribchester’s display was not lost on Bookmaker Skybet’s Michael Shinners, who said:
“That was a very impressive display from Ribchester and he looks the outstanding fouryear-old miler in training on the back of it.
Potential clash
“We could be set for a fascinating clash with Guineas winner Churchill in something like the Sussex further down the line, but for now he has to head the betting for the Queen Anne.
ribchester was completing a double for Godolphin after Hawkbill landed the Group 3 Al Rayyan Stakes.
Trained by Charlie Appleby, last year’s Eclipse Stakes winner scored by two lengths from My Dream Boat, the mount of Adam Kirby.
“In the paddock today, people asked me if I was concerned about the sweating - I said if he didn’t sweat, then I’d be concerned,” Appleby said.
Asked where he would go next, the trainer added: “Wherever the ground is. He’s in everything from here on in.
Elsewhere on a busy day of racing in the UK, there were wins for Shaikh Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Deputy Ruler of Dubai and Minister of Finance, at Newmarket with Tajaanus and Shaikh Mohammad Obaid Al Maktoum whose Dafoe won the London Gold Cup at Newbury.