14.30 Royal Ascot - Queen Anne Stakes
1st Ribchester 11/10 favourite
2nd Mutakayyef 5/1
3rd Deauville 12/1
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Report
Ribchester, widely thought of as one of the best bets of Royal Ascot following his victory in the Lockinge Stakes, didn't disappoint with an impressive victory in the Queen Anne Stakes.
Pacemakers Toscanini and Dutch Uncle set a rapid tempo and were ignored by the majority of the field as they pulled around 10 lengths clear of the pack.
US raider Miss Temple City raced in a distant third, tracked by William Buick aboard the favourite with Mutakayyef and Deauville in close attendance.
Ribchester eased up to Toscanini, who slightly hampered his stablemate, but hung to his left once hitting the front. He straightened out as the chasing pack closed on to his heels though and ran on to record an impressive length and a quarter victory in a course record time.
It was a first Group One victory for Fahey at Royal Ascot and a sixth in all.
Sky Bet cut Ribchester to 6/4 from 2/1 for the QIPCO Sussex Stakes at Glorious Goodwood.
Racing PR Manager Michael Shinners said: "Ribchester's victories at Newbury and here at Royal Ascot have arguably marked him down as the best miler in training, certainly among the older horses, and he's now 6/4 for the Sussex Stakes.
"It's time for Churchill or Barney Roy to put down a marker later today!"
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William Buick told ITV Racing: "I said after the Lockinge he's very versatile. He's an exceptional miler, of course he's got lots of quality but he travels so well and sees it out so well.
"You've got to hand it to the horse, he's an absolute jockey's dream.
"It doesn't get much better than this, it's the biggest week in our sport and to wear the royal blue for Sheikh Mohammed here is absolutely fantastic."
Richard Fahey: "I'm delighted he won, William said he's got huge gears and said that he was never in trouble. He gets the trip well and that makes him a good horse.
"It was not really the plan to go that quick, but in fairness I did tell Paul (Hanagan) to send his (Toscanini) out and set him alight.
"He's got to be the best I've trained, especially breaking the track record here today, and that is not being disrespectful to the other horses.
"The Sussex Stakes is where he has to go as the French race he won last year (Prix Jacques le Marois) is only 10 days after so it will be one or the other.
"I was hoping that he'd stay further than a mile but we don't need to now.
"It was good pressure to have, he was not odds-on in the end and he was the right horse to have the pressure with as sometimes you get favourites that can't win.
"I'm in a happy place at the minute."
William Haggas said of the runner-up: "He ran really well and travelled well, but Ribchester was better than us on the day.
"He loves that fast ground and I'd imagine we'll go to the Sussex Stakes next. He needs racing now as he's not had many (runs) but he does go well fresh."
Aidan O'Brien said of Deauville: "We're delighted with the run, Ryan (Moore) didn't have much to say but we're delighted."
Melbourne Cup winner Michelle Payne saw her mount Kaspersky perform above expectations in fifth.
"The atmosphere here is something I'll remember forever. Ribchester's a champion," said Payne.
