Richard Fahey has reported Ribchester (Ire) (Iffraaj {GB}) to be in good order following his victory in the G1 Queen Anne S. at Royal Ascot on Tuesday. The 4-year-old struck at Group 1 level for the third time in his career when claiming the one-mile prize to back up his win in last month's G1 Lockinge S. at Newbury. Plans remain fluid as to where the son Iffraaj will next be seen out with both the G1 Sussex S. at Goodwood Aug. 2 and the G1 Prix Jacques le Marois at Deauville Aug. 13 under consideration.
“He is great,” said Fahey. “I've not been back home, but the lads at home are happy with him and he has been eating up which is the important thing. The horses have taken the heat better than us humans. There was no pressure on me, only the pressure that I put on myself. The draw in one was more the worry. I thought that everything was going to happen this way [stands side], but Toscanini (Ire) (Shamardal) did a great job and made sure the race stayed where we wanted.”
“I've got to speak to Sheikh Mohammed to see where he goes next as there are other horses to consider and they have a lot of good ones,” he continued. “The French race is only 10 days after Goodwood, so he won't be doing both. It will be one or the other, but we will see how he is beforehand. At the end of the season he could come back to Ascot for [the G1] Queen Elizabeth II, all being well. He is getting better and as long as he is in training he will get better. I think he was better than when he won the Lockinge or the Queen Anne.”
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