Godolphin’s Ribchester and Al Shaqab’s Galileo Gold fight out the latest instalment of their rivalry in the Group 1 Prix Jacques Le Marois at Deauville on Sunday.
Ribchester flew home in the Sussex Stakes a two weeks ago at Goodwood but required another four strides to pick up The Gurkha and Galileo Gold at the end of the 1,600-metre showpiece.
It was the second time the two colts had clashed after Ribchester was third behind Galileo Gold and Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid’s Massaat in the English 2,000 Guineas in April.
Ribchester, who is trained in the north of England by Richard Fahey, had to switch off the rail under James Doyle and come wide to leave his trainer wondering what might have happened with a more charmed run.
The three-year-old son of Iffraaj, a 1,400m performer, will be ridden by William Buick, who in the early hours of this morning partnered Dubai World Cup Carnival star Tryster in the Arlington Million in Chicago.
Fahey has never travelled a horse before and tweeted a picture of himself on Saturday, proudly taking the Janah flight to France.
“I was very pleased with how Ribchester took his race at Goodwood,” Fahey said. “He is looking and feeling well, and his preparation for the race has gone to plan.
He is a horse, who seems to go on any surface, and I am looking forward to it.”
Buick landed a similar transatlantic double six years ago when he guided Princess Haya of Jordan’s Debussy to victory in the Million and then Khalifa Dasmal’s Dream Ahead in the Prix Morny the following day.
Buick is hopeful Ribchester has taken another step forward.
“It was a great run in the Sussex. He stepped up on everything he had done and he’s obviously improved,” he said.
Galileo Gold will be ridden once more by Frankie Dettori, who secured his 3,000th British winner at Newmarket on Friday.
The two colts will face nine others, including Vadamos, who ran down the field in the Dubai World Cup in March for Andre Fabre, and talented French mares Ervedya and Esoterique.
The Dubai-based operation received a much-needed fillip yesterday when Richard Pankhurst bounced back to form in the Group 2 Hungerford Stakes at Newbury.
Godolphin ran Hugo Palmer’s Home Of The Brave in the 1,400-metre contest and the favourite set a decent pace under Jim Crowley.
Robert Havlin held up Richard Pankhurst and he waited until the final 300 metres before he allowed his mount to cruise up to Home Of the Brave before powering clear to give Godolphin a one-two.
Richard Pankhurst shown significant promise last season when he won the Chesham Stakes at Royal Ascot, and then went on to beat Dark Emerald in a Conditions race at Haydock.
It was the last time he entered the winners’ enclosure and he was deeply disappointing last time when last in the Sussex Stakes.
“He will sit in behind any lead horse and he will easily pick anything up,” Havlin said.
“He has a hell of a turn of foot on quick ground.
“He’s had niggling problems throughout his career so he lacks confidence.
“We expected a lot more from him in his two runs this year because his homework was so good.”
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