Three-year-old Iffraaj colt Ribchester, last seen finishing a creditable third in the 2,000 Guineas, ran out the impressive winner of the G3 Jersey Stakes for Godolphin on the second day of Ascot’s Royal meeting.
Always travelling well under William Buick, Ribchester was still cruising approaching the final two furlongs and once asked to quicken he responded brilliantly to ease clear and win by two and a quarter lengths from Thikriyaat. Dubawi’s Forge ran well to finish third.
A consistently smart performer, Ribchester rounded off his two-year-old campaign with a win in the G2 Mill Reef Stakes at two and was also second in the Gimcrack. His trainer Richard Fahey indicated after the race that he could now return to G1 level in next month’s Sussex Stakes at Goodwood.
He was bred by A Thompson and M O’Brien and is the first foal to race out of the Marju mare Mujarah, a half-sister to Group winner Tactic and Teofilo’s Stakes-winning daughter Yaazy.
Ribchester is one of 14 Black type performers for his sire so far this year, headed by G1 winner Turn Me Loose and French Guineas second Nathra.
