BUICK’S RIB A SUSSEX STAR
Some impressive names adorn the roll call for the Qatar Sussex Stakes today and RIBCHESTER (Goodwood, 3.35) should add his name to an illustrious list.
Solow, Kingman, Canford Cliffs and history-breaker Frankel have all lifted the prestigious Group one prize in the last decade and Richard Fahey’s four-year-old could well have been bidding to emulate the wonderful Frankel had the cards dropped his way 12 months ago.
Beaten only half a length by The Gurkha in last year’s renewal after suffering an interrupted passage, Ribchester might have been striving to be crowned just the second dual winner of this afternoon’s feature in its 176-year history had he been successful, but that is perhaps being a little presumptuous.
The Queen Anne Stakes winner from Ascot must first lower the colours of Qipco Guineas winner Churchill, among others, before he can be spoken of in the same breath as the likes of Frankel, but his Royal victory served to silence one or two doubters who have queried the gelding’s ability to perform at the highest level.
There is little doubt Ribchester has improved with maturity and experience but the partnership with William Buick has also reaped rich dividends and the pair have forged an excellent relationship since the middle of last summer.
The manner of Ribchester’s victories aren’t always the most aesthetically pleasing as he does have a tendency to hang either right or left when hitting the front.
However, he proved at Ascot he is tactically versatile and boasts plenty of speed which should serve him well this afternoon if Ballydoyle try and control the gallop courtesy of Guineas-fourth Lancaster Bomber.
No doubt trainer Aidan o’Brien has hatched a cunning plan to overturn Ribchester with Churchill, who was such a huge disappointment in the St James’s Palace Stakes won by Barney Roy. That day saw the green shoots emerge of a Godolphin renaissance at the top table, with Ribchester and Barney Roy lifting Group one prizes, and Sheik mohammed will be keen to ensure his operation maintains the upper hand here.
Weather forecasters are suggesting there could be significant rainfall throughout the afternoon, but a marked easing of the ground shouldn’t inconvenience a horse who ploughed through the mud to win the Lockinge Stakes impressively — and his proven track experience should also stand him in good stead.
Lightning Spear, three lengths in arrears of the selection in the Lockinge, has failed to fire since, but we saw on day one his yard aren’t averse to pinging in a big-priced winner and he could give rider oisin murphy some respite with a big run following a tortuous day yesterday.