Day One of Royal Ascot got off to a great start with Goffs graduates, Ribchester and Rajasinghe winning the Gr. 1 Queen Anne Stakes and Gr.2 Coventry Stakes, respectively.
Going off the favourite, RIBCHESTER ran behind the leading group and went clear to win by 1 ¼ lengths over Mutakayyef and Deauville, smashing the track record. Ribchester was sold as a foal by Kilmore Stud to Jamie Railton for €78,000, and then went back under the hammer as a yearling in the Orby Sale, where he was sold by the Irish National Stud to Highfield Farm for €105,000.
Ribchester was purchased privately by Godolphin in 2015 after his second in the Gr. 2 Gimcrack Stakes. He raced well in Group 1 company with his previous win coming from a strong performance in the Gr. 1 Al Shaqab Lockinge Stakes. Ribchester’s Ascot win confirms his place in the World Rankings after it was announced he was placed third behind Arrogate and Winx.
RAJASINGHE stepped up in class to perform well in Group company. He broke his maiden at Newcastle by 4 lengths before competing in the Gr.2 Coventry Stakes, where he held on well to win in a new track record. Going off at 11/1 he was with the leaders halfway out and kept on strong to win by a head for owners Rebel Racing. Rajasinghe was sold as a foal by Arraghslea Stud for €65,000 to Trickledown Stud.