Stonestreet Stables’ Ruthin took the lead right out of the starting gate then held off rival Derrynane by a diminishing neck to win the Listed TVG Limestone Stakes at Keeneland on Friday, 15 April.
The three-year-old daughter of Ribchester was making her first start since last June, when she was seventh – only beaten three-and-a-half lengths – in the Windsor Castle Stakes at Royal Ascot. Prior to that, Ruthin broke her maiden at Keeneland last April by six lengths.
Trained by Wesley Ward and ridden by John Velazquez, Ruthin broke on top and led the field of eight through unopposed fractions of :22.59 and :45.83 while Derrynane raced near the rear. In the stretch, Ruthin maintained a clear advantage in the middle of the course and had enough left in the tank to hold off the late bid of Derrynane.
Bred in Great Britain by Highclere Stud and Jake Warren, Ruthin is out of the Stakes-winning Selkirk mare Selinka, making her a half-sister to multiple G3 Stakes winner Hit The Bid (by Exceed And Excel).
Champion miler Ribchester is now the sire of 24 individual first-crop winners, led by the highly rated Flaming Rib, winner of the Listed Doncaster Stakes as a juvenile.
Ribchester stands at Kildangan Stud at a fee of €12,500 Oct 1, SLF.
