RIB TRIP UPS THE STAKES
RICHARD FAHEY feels Ribchester has thrived since his trip to Dubai ahead of the Al Shaqab Lockinge Stakes at Newbury on Saturday.
A Royal Ascot winner last season in the Jersey Stakes, he ran well in the Sussex Stakes before winning the Prix Jacques le Marois at Deauville.
He final run saw him narrowly fail to catch the brilliant Minding on Champions Day at Ascot, before he put up another solid display at Meydan in March, failing by just a length in the Dubai Turf.
That was over nine furlongs but he will drop back to a mile this weekend and have the aid of a pacemaker in Toscanini.
Fahey said: “We’re very happy with him. I don’t know what it is, I was happy with him in Dubai and since he has come back he has really thrived.
“He’s had a couple of easy days but we’re very happy with him. Physically and mentally he’s getting stronger, as we always felt he would, and his work is good.
“The beauty of Ribchester is you could sell him as a sports car, he can go very quick in a few strides. He just needs a decent pace to get him to drop his head and William Buick has been riding him really well, running the pacemaker just means we are guaranteed a good pace.”
Galileo Gold, a rival for Ribchester, will take him on but Coral make Fahey’s charge the one to beat as the 9-4 favourite.
Galileo Gold is quoted at 11-4, ahead of Lightning Spear and Somehow, both 5-1.
■ Charlie Appleby’s Prix SaintAlary winner Sobetsu will swerve the Investec Oaks in favour of a crack at the Prix de Diane.
In the immediate aftermath of her Group One win, connections were keen to stress wherever the ground was softest she’d end up.
But talks have taken place with Sheikh Mohammed and the filly has been ruled out of Epsom.
Appleby said: “John Ferguson, Godolphin chief executive and racing manager, and I have discussed it with His Highness Sheikh Mohammed, and the final decision is the Prix de Diane.”
■ Longchamp officials insist the historic French track is on schedule to reopen next spring.
The iconic Parisian circuit has been closed since the 2015 Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe as part of a £112m redevelopment.
Marketing director France Galop said: “The construction company will give us the keys in mid-November and then it’s for us to conduct some work.
“I’m confident we’ll be ready.”