RICHARD’S RIB TICKLER
Miler roasts ’em
RIBCHESTER scorched home in a record time in the Queen Anne Stakes on the hottest day at the track for 20 years.
Sent off the 11-10 favourite, Richard Fahey’s star was always cruising in the hands of William Buick behind the pacemakers, Toscanini and Dutch Uncle.
And despite lurching across the track he came home one-and-aquarter lengths ahead of Mutakayyef.
Deauville finished late to take third place with Melbourne Cup winning rider Michelle Payne finishing fifth on Kaspersky.
This was a timely winner for Sheikh Mohammed, who registered his first winner in this country 40 years ago to the day with Hatta at Brighton.
“That was a surprise when Hatta won,” said Sheikh Mohammed. “From that day we have not stopped going forward and we love it.
“In racing there’s no winning post in life, you have to keep going as the rest of them will catch up with you. It’s great to win at Royal Ascot.”
Buick, who also rode Ribchester to win the Lockinge and Group ® One Prix Jacques le Marois last season, said: “He’s very versatile and an exceptional miler. The best I’ve ridden.
“He has lots of quality, travels well and sees it out brilliantly. You’ve got to hand it to the horse, he’s a jockey’s dream.”
Winning trainer Richard Fahey was not holding back about his admiration for the four-year-old.
“He’s got to be the best I’ve trained, especially breaking the track record here today, and that is not being disrespectful to the other horses,” he said.
Asleep
“The Sussex Stakes is where he has to go as the French race he won last year (Prix Jacques le Marois) is only 10 days after so it will be one or the other.
“I was hoping that he’d stay further than a mile but we don’t need to now.”
Payne, having her first experience of Royal Ascot, was clearly taken by the occasion and Kaspersky dismissed his odds of 66-1 when running a blinder.
“I was absolutely thrilled with that ride,” said the Aussie. “The atmosphere is incredible and it’s something I will never forget.
“The winner is a great horse. The pacemakers did not help us because my boy fell asleep leaving the barriers and when we got going we could have done with some cover.
“But that was a great performance. The winner is some horse, we are absolutely thrilled with that run.
“He will come back here for next month’s Summer Mile and then head for the Emirates Stakes in Australia.”