THE champion miler in Europe as a three-year-old in 2016 and again in 2017 when he won three more Group 1 events at that distance, Ribchester is definitely a major attraction among the stallions at Kildangan Stud.

He has a wonderful outcross pedigree, inbred to Nureyev, but without either Danzig or Sadler’s Wells. No wonder that his first foals were in strong demand last autumn, with 14 of them selling for over €60,000 and a top price of 145,000gns. A yearling colt sold for €54,000 at Goffs this month.

Ribchester was second on his debut as a two-year-old and then a close second in the Group 2 Gimcrack Stakes next time out, a performance which caused his purchase by Godolphin who kept him with trainer Richard Fahey. He soon justified the investment by comfortably winning the Group 2 Mill Reef Stakes on his only other start that season.

Early in 2016 Ribchester proved he was a top-class colt with his third to Galileo Gold in the Group 1 2000 Guineas at Newmarket, then going on to an impressive victory in the Group 3 Jersey Stakes at Royal Ascot. In the Group 1 Sussex Stakes at Goodwood he was only a neck and a short head behind The Gurkha and Galileo Gold, before winning the Group 1 Prix Jacques Le Marois at Deauville. Ribchester ended that season by running the top filly Minding to half a length in the Group 1 Queen Elizabeth II Stakes at Ascot, ahead of Awtaad and Galileo Gold.

Ribchester was still improving, with his first victory in 2017 coming in the Group 1 Lockinge Stakes at Newbury, before going on to win the Group 1 Queen Anne Stakes at Royal Ascot in record time. After a very close second at Goodwood in the Group 1 Sussex Stakes, he returned to winning form in the Group 1 Prix du Moulin at Chantilly, then was second to Persuasive in the Group 1 Queen Elizabeth II Stakes, with Churchill third.

Iffraaj, the sire of Ribchester, was a top-class sprinter and this son of Zafonic has already sired 69 blacktype winners, nine of them of Group 1 calibre including Wootton Bassett, sire of the brilliant colt Almanzor.

Ribchester is the first foal of his dam Mujarah, a half-sister by Marju to the Group 3 Curragh Cup winner Tactic and 2019 group star Bangkok. His third dam Mehthaaf was the champion filly of 1994 when she won the Irish 1000 Guineas, and this is the family of Group 1 stars Elnadim and Intello.

RIBCHESTER (IRE), Bay 2013. Jt Champion 3yr old miler in Europe in 2016. Champion older miler in Europe in 2017. Won six races, £2,639,988, from 6 furlongs to 1 mile, 2 to 4 years viz., Al Shaqab Lockinge Stakes, Newbury, Gr.1, P. Fresnay le Buffard Jacques Le Marois, Deauville, Gr.1, Qatar Prix du Moulin de Longchamp, Chantilly, Gr.1, Queen Anne Stakes, Ascot, Gr.1, Dubai Duty Free Mill Reef Stakes, Newbury, Gr.2, Jersey Stakes, Ascot, Gr.3, also placed second in Qatar Sussex Stakes, Goodwood, Gr.1, Qipco Queen Elizabeth II Stakes, Ascot, Gr.1 (twice), Irish TB Marketing Gimcrack Stakes, York, Gr.2, and third in DP World Dubai Turf, Meydan, Gr.1, Qatar Sussex Stakes, Goodwood, Gr.1, Qipco 2000 Guineas Stakes, Newmarket, Gr.1.

Retired to Stud in 2018, first crop now yearlings.

Stands at: Kildangan Stud, Monasterevin, Co. Kildare, Ireland.

Contact: Eamon Moloney, Anthony O’Donnell or Caoimhe Doherty

Telephone: +353 (0) 45 527600

Email: enquiries@darleyireland.com.

Web: www.darleystallions.com

Fee: €20,000