Ribchester kicked off the first day’s action in scintillating style, notching his second straight G1 and third overall when scorching up the straight mile to take the Queen Anne in record time (pictured). The son of Iffraaj’s victory was particularly poignant for Sheikh Mohammed, who had celebrated his very first winner, Hatta, exactly 40 years earlier.
The last race on the card on Tuesday was the Windsor Castle Stakes and Exceed And Excel was responsible for the first and third home with victory for Sound And Silence and James Garfield making the frame.
On Wednesday, Shamardal’s daughters Aljazzi and Usherette finished second and third respectively in the G2 Duke Of Cambridge Stakes, with the latter arguably one of the unluckiest horses of the day and both will now likely race in G1 company next.
Thursday was definitely Dubawi day, as the Dalham Hall Stud flagbearer added two new Group winners to his already outstanding record. Benbatl has been a hugely exciting performer for his sire this year and he could not have been more impressive as he swept to victory in the G3 Hampton Court Stakes. He will head to York for the Great Voltigeur next, with the G1 Champion Stakes his long-term target.
The following race provided one of the most thrilling finishes of the week, as Coronet got up in the dying strides to take the G2 Ribblesdale. A tilt at the oldest Classic, the G1 St Leger could now be on the cards, for which she is as short at 10-1.
Teofilo’s son Permian has been a solid campaigner both this year and last, and on Friday he recorded his second win at G2 level with a superb victory in the King Edward VII Stakes. Also winner of this year’s Dante Stakes, he will now return to G1 level, with his target as yet to be decided.
They may not have been Stakes races, but every race counts on the royal turf and Dubawi's Rare Rhythm took the Duke Of Edinburgh on Thursday, while Out Do (Exceed And Excel) took the penultimate race of the meeting, the Wokingham to round off a superb week for the Darley stallions.
