Ribchester has first Group I win in France's Prix Jacques le Marois
Ribchester, third in two Group 1 races in England earlier this year, won the first Group 1 race of his career in Sunday’s $781,000 Prix Jacques le Marois for turf milers at Deauville Racecourse in France.
Ribchester won the Prix Jacques le Marois by a half-length over 4-1 Vadamos, who was 11th in the $10 million Dubai World Cup behind California Chrome in the United Arab Emirates in March.
Jockey William Buick had Ribchester in the middle of the field before moving closer to the front with about 300 yards to go. Ribchester took the lead in the final sixteenth.
Vadamos finished 1 3/4 lengths in front Ervedya, a 5-1 shot. Galileo Gold, who was second in the Sussex Stakes, finished eighth as the 8-5 favorite.
Buick rode Tryster to an eighth-place finish in the Arlington Million on Saturday.
Ribchester was one of five 3-year-olds in a field of 11.
An Irish-bred colt by Ifraaj, Ribchester races for Godolphin Racing and trainer Richard Fahey. Ribchester won the Group 3 Jersey Stakes for 3-year-olds at Royal Ascot in June, his only other stakes win this year. Ribchester was third in the Group 1 English 2000 Guineas in May and third in the Group 1 Sussex Stakes at Goodwood Racecourse on July 27.
Ribchester earned a fees-paid berth for the Breeders’ Cup Mile at Santa Anita on Nov. 5 through the Breeders’ Cup’s Win and You’re In program. It is not clear whether Ribchester will be sent to California. After Sunday’s race, Fahey said his primary goal for the autumn is the Queen Elizabeth II Mile at Ascot on Oct. 15.