Godolphin's MG1SW Ribchester (Ire) (Iffraaj {GB}–Murjarah {Ire}, by Marju {Ire}), the highest rated horse descended from Fall Aspen after Dubai Millennium (GB), will shuttle to Darley Kelvinside in New South Wales, Australia, Darley announced. Highweighted in both England and France from 7-9 1/2f at three and four, the bay struck three times at the highest level in 2017, taking out the G1 Lockinge S. at Newbury, the G1 Queen Anne S. at Royal Ascot, and the G1 Qatar Prix du Moulin de Longchamp. The Richard Fahey trainee also saluted the judge in the 2016 G1 Prix du Haras de Fresnay-Le Buffard-Jacques Le Marois and filled the top three in another six Group 1 contests, good for six wins in 16 starts and earnings over $3.5 million. He also won the G2 Mill Reef S. as a juvenile, after being purchased by Godolphin from David Armstrong after a runner-up performance in the 2015 G2 Gimcrack S.
“[Ribchester] is one of the best-performing shuttle stallions the organization has ever stood,” said Darley Australia's Head of Sales Alastair Pulford. “In some ways, he's like Shamardal and Dubawi (Ire), both top European milers too. Even better though, his father Iffraaj (GB) is a top Mr. Prospector-line sire who has already succeeded in this part of the world. Ribchester represents a great outcross for the many Danehill-line mares in this country–mares by Exceed And Excel (Aus), Snitzel (Aus), Not A Single Doubt (Aus), and many others are really going to suit this magnificent individual.”
Out of a half-sister to GSW Tactic (GB) (Sadler's Wells) and with Irish highweight and G1 Irish 1000 Guineas heroine Mehthaaf (Nureyev) as his third dam, the four-time Group 1 winner commands a fee of €30,000 at Kildangan Stud in Ireland for his first season in 2018. A Southern Hemisphere fee will be announced later.
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