Ribchester Filly Fetches over Half a Million at Arqana

Arqana’s 2YO Breeze Up Sale took place last week in Europe with RIBCHESTER (IRE) (Iffraaj) making his presence felt on a strong day of selling.

With just two lots catalogued – a colt and filly – it was the filly that set the sale ring alight. Setting the second highest price of the sale, some fierce competition in the ring saw her eventually knocked down for the hefty price of £590,000 to Blandford Bloodstock.

Richard Brown of Blandford Bloodstock said after signing for the filly, “She gave an exceptional breeze and has a lot of scope. I am a big fan of RIBCHESTER and we’ve been hearing lots of good things about his progeny and they have already been running well. I didn’t think she would be this expensive, but I think she was one of the best fillies in the sale.”

The filly represented an outstanding pinhook result for the Church Farm & Horse Park Stud draft who purchased her at the Goffs Premier Yearling Sale last year for £45,000. It also reinforces the comments made by Church Farm & Horse Park Stud’s Richard Morley earlier this year who said this of the filly when singing the praises of RIBCHESTER:

“I have a scopey RIBCHESTER filly who came from Goffs and she takes your eye out with her movement. She’s a lovely filly with a really good action and there’s a bit of chat about RIBCHESTER. Everyone who has one seems to like them.”

RIBCHESTER has three winners to his credit already in Europe with the flat racing season only just getting into full swing. He has two likely contenders for feature 2YO spoils at Royal Ascot later this month with American trainer Wesley Ward set to send RIBCHESTER’s first winner, RUTHIN to Royal Ascot where she is likely to be joined by the Richard Hannon-trained GISBURN who is currently one of the leading fancies for the Coventry Stakes.

RIBCHESTER returns to Haunui Farm in 2021 and will stand at a fee of $15,000 + GST.