Tuesday, Jun 20, 2017

Dubai Godolphin gifted their founder, His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, with the best possible accolade on his 40th Anniversary in racing, with two sensational victories on the opening day of Royal Ascot in the UK.

Ribchester launched the celebrations when winning the £600,000 Queen Anne Stakes before Barney Roy made it a giant double with a stunning defeat of dual Guineas hero Churchill in the £400,000 St, James’s Palace Stakes, two of three Group 1 contest that embellish a cracking first day’s card of six races.

Richard Fahey’s Ribchester was all the rage following an impressive victory in last month’s Lockinge Stakes at Newbury and he did not disappoint.

With Godolphin’s retained rider William Buick content to bide his time as his stable companion and pacemaker Toscanini took the field along at a strong gallop.

Racing prominently in a chasing group Buick asked Ribchester for his effort inside the final furlong and the response was immediate. Despite edging out under pressure he ran on well to score by a 1 ¼ length from Mutakayyf.

“I said after the Lockinge he’s very versatile,” said Buick. “He’s an exceptional miler, of course he’s got lots of quality but he travels so well and sees it out so well. You’ve got to hand it to the horse, he’s an absolute jockey’s dream.

“He’s the best miler I have ever ridden.

“It doesn’t get much better than this, it’s the biggest week in our sport and to wear the royal blue for Shaikh Mohammad here is absolutely fantastic.

“We are all working towards one goal, we all want to be in the winner’s enclosure and that is what Shaikh Mohammad deserves.”

Fahey was delighted to have another Royal victory under his belt and said: “He has to be the best horse I have ever trained. He broke the track record here today and that’s not being disrespectful to the others, but he is just exceptional.”

Michelle Payne, the only female jockey to win the Melbourne Cup, was fifth of the 16 runners on 66-1 outsider Kaspersky as the rider made her Ascot debut.

The St. James’s Palace Stakes was being touted as a rematch between Chruchill, winner of the English and Irish 2,000 Guineas and Godolphin’s Barney Roy, the horse that he beat in the former.

However, the tables were reversed in stunning fashion with Barney Roy gaining sweet revenge aboard the Richard Hanon-trained colt, ridden with supreme confidence by James Doyle.

Churchill’s stable companion, Lancaster Bomber, was second and Godolphin’s UAE Derby hero, Thunder Snow, third.

Hannon said: “I thought he was off the bridle a bit early and I was a little worried that he was going to run a moderate race and finish fourth, but I’ve got a lot of confidence in this horse and I’m delighted.

“I was confident he’d run his race, not confident he’d win - I just wanted to give him the chance to prove that, as I don’t think he got that chance in the Guineas.

Winning jockey Doyle added: “It’s been an up and down season and when I knew I’d got the ride on this fellow I was pretty excited.

“He felt good at Newbury (Greenham) but it didn’t go our way in the Guineas. He’s proved what a good horse he is there.

“When we jumped out of the gate my tack slipped back a bit, which was a bit of a worry, but he stuck at it well off the turn/

“It doesn’t get better than this.”

By Leslie Wilson Jr Racing & Special Features Writer

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