RIBCHESTER HAS A LOT TO SPARE
STARTS WITH TIP-TOP RACING Will knows way to win
William Buick sent Ribchester straight to the front after pacemaker Toscanini missed the break and the partnership headed down the centre of the track.
Market rival Galileo Gold was also promiment but Frankie Dettori elected to take him away from the pack and towards the rail in a bid to get him settled.
While that tactic may well have worked, Galileo Gold had no answer when Buick wound things up from the front and it was Lightning Spear who emerged to lay down a challenge.
Ribchester briefly looked vulnerable when drifting to the near-side rail but found plenty to win by three and three-quarter lengths, with Breton Rock running on for a distant third.
It was a fourth Lockinge win in five JASON HEAVEY years for Godolphin but a first for both trainer Richard Fahey and Buick.
Ribchester has now been cut from 7-4 from 11-4 by most bookmakers for the Queen Anne at Royal Ascot.
Winning jockey Buick said: “He’s a very good horse and very versatile.
“Richard and his team at home have done a fantastic job with him.
“If you are going to compete in these Group One races and be successful, you have to be the complete package.
“He’s one horse I’m very, very happy to ride.”
Fahey said: “Ribchester is mentally mature and physically getting better.
“We’ve always liked him. He’s gone a bit lazy on me at home but we are happy where he is now.”
Buick was completing a notable double as earlier, Hawkbill produced an impressive front-running display to land the Al Rayyan Stakes.