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Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale - First Season Sire
Ribchester (2013)
Iffraaj - Mujarah by Marju
Stood at Darley Kelvinside
2018 Fee: $24,750 (inc GST)
2019 Fee: FOA
2020 Fee: NZ$15,000 at Haunui Farm (NZ)
Number of lots catalogued: three
Timeform Rating: 129
Multiple Group 1 winner Ribchester (Iffraaj) stood at Darley’s Kelvinside base in New South Wales for an introductory fee of $24,750 (inc GST).
Trained by Richard Fahey and raced for the most part of his career by Godolphin, the ultra consistent son of Iffraaj (Zafonic), amassed £2,641,449 in career prize-money and retired in 2017 the winner of six of his 16 career starts, including four at Group 1 level, only failing to finish inside the top three on two occasions.
Godolphin bought into the colt after he finished runner-up on his second career start in the Gimcrack Stakes (Gr 2, 6f) at York and he won the 2015 Mill Reef Stakes (Gr 2, 6f) at Newbury on his first start in the famous blue.
At three he won the Prix Jacques le Marois (Gr 1, 1600m) and Jersey Stakes (Gr 3, 7f) at Royal Ascot and also finished third in both the 2,000 Guineas (Gr 1, 1m) and Sussex Stakes (Gr 1, 1m).
Arguably his two best career performances came at four with his dominant three and three quarter length victory in the 2017 Lockinge Stakes (Gr 1, 1m) at Newbury and on his next start when breaking the track record for the straight mile at Ascot in his defeat of Mutakayyef (Sea The Stars) in the Queen Anne Stakes (Gr 1, 1m) at Royal Ascot. He also won the Queen Anne Stakes (Gr 1, 8f) and finished second in both the Sussex Stakes and Queen Elizabeth II Stakes (Gr 1, 1m).
On news that Ribchester would shuttle to Darley Australia, Alastair Pulford said: “He’s one of the best-performing shuttle stallions the organisation has ever stood.
“In some ways he’s like Shamardal and Dubawi, both top European milers too.
“Even better though, his father Iffraaj is a top Mr Prospector-line sire who has already succeeded in this part of the world.”
Ribchester was relocated to Haunui Farm for the 2020 breeding season, replacing his father Iffraaj (Zafonic) when time was called on his successful shuttling career.
Purchased as a yearling by Highfield Farm for €105,000 from the Irish National Stud draft at the Goffs Orby Yearling Sale, Ribchester is the first foal out of the unplaced Marju (Last Tycoon) mare Mujarah.
Mujarah herself is a half-sister to Group 1 scorer Matterhorn (Raven’s Pass) and Group 3-winning pair Bangkok (Australia) and Tactic (Sadler’s Wells) as well as Listed winner Yazzy (Teofilo) and to the dam of Group 3 winner Convergence (Cape Cross).
Meanwhile, his third dam is Irish 1,000 Guineas (Gr 1, 1m) winner Mehthaaf (Nureyev), who produced Group Two winner Najah (Nashwan).
Further back he is from the same family as Group 1 winners Elnadim (Danzig), Occupandiste (Kaldoun), Intello (Galileo) and Grade 1 winner Mondialiste (Galileo).
Ribchester descends from an outstanding female family and is the highest-rated horse descended from high-class producer Fall Aspen (Pretense) since Dubai Millennium (Seeking The Gold).
