Dubai: Ribchester improved on his personal best to win the Group 3 Jersey Stakes and provide Team Godolphin with their first of two winners on Day Two at this year’s Royal Ascot meeting.
Ridden by William Buick and trained by Richard Fahey in North Yorkshire, the son of former Godolphin star Iffraaj, scored by 2¼ lengths from Thikriyaat, ridden by Paul Hanagan in the colours of Shaikh Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Deputy Ruler of Dubai and Minister of Finance.
Godolphin’s colours would once again grace the winner’s enclosure following French-trained Usherette’s victory in the Group 2 Duke of Cambridge Stakes, under Mickael Barzalona.
The talented Shamardal filly scored by 2 1/4 lengths from Furia Cruzada, the mount of Pat Smullen, while Godolphin’s second runner Always Smile, was a shorthead back in third under James Doyle.
After finishing third to Galileo Gold in the English 2,000 Guineas (Group 1) at Newmarket in May, Ribchester was prepared with an eye on the Jersey Stakes and he duly delivered the goods in style.
John Ferguson, Godolphin’s racing manager and chief executive, told Channel 4 Racing: “He’s a fantastic horse and he ran really well in the Guineas. William said he had really improved since the Guineas. All credit goes to Richard and his team — they’ve done a wonderful job with the horse.”
Buick, who was notching up a 15th Royal Ascot success, said: “He ran very well in the Guineas and he might have done a little bit better had things worked out differently. He doesn’t mind that ground and it was real good performance.”
Godolphin previously won the Jersey Stakes in 2004 with Kheleyf, who was trained by the stable’s principal handler Saeed Bin Surour.
