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Multiple Group 1 winner to stand at New Zealand farm for NZ$15,000.
Multiple Group 1 winner Ribchester (Iffraaj) will replace his father Iffraaj (Zafonic) at Haunui Farm in 2020 where he will stand for a fee of NZ$15,000 (plus GST).
Iffraaj, who has shuttled to New Zealand for the past 12 years, will continue covering duties at Darley's Dalham Hall in Newmarket, and Haunui Farm's Mark Chitty said the decision was made in the best interests of the 19 year-old stallion.
"After lengthy discussions with the team from Darley, we have made the decision to retire Iffraaj from the southern hemisphere serving duties after 12 years. At 19 years of age, the decision was made solely in Iffraaj's best interests.
"I'd like to take this opportunity to thank His Highness Sheikh Mohammed and his entire team at Darley for entrusting us with Iffraaj for so many seasons. He has certainly made his mark in the Southern Hemisphere and his results here have helped lift him to the elite echelon of stallions and, his legacy is certainly set to continue in Australasia.
"Iffraaj will be sadly missed by all of us here at Haunui and we wish the Darley team every success with him as he continues his career in the northern hemisphere."
Iffraaj has sired 26 stakes winners in New Zealand and Australia, headed by five elite level scorers and, while Chitty said he would be sorely missed at the farm, he was looking forward to welcoming his four time Group 1-winning son Ribchester to their roster, who has covered two books of mares at Darley's Kelvinside base.
"Who better to replace Iffraaj on the Haunui stallion roster than his best son," said Chitty. "We're very excited to have Ribchester coming to Haunui in 2020, especially given we were very keen to secure him for New Zealand stud duties when he was initially retired."
Trained by Richard Fahey, Ribchester landed the Mill Reef Stakes (Gr 2, 6f) on his third and final start as a three-year-old, having finished second in this first two, including in the Gimcrack Stakes (Gr 2, 6f).
After finishing third behind Galileo Gold (Paco Boy) in the 2,000 Guineas (Gr 1, 1m) at Newmarket, Ribchester took out the Jersey Stakes (Gr 3, 7f) at Royal Ascot and landed his first Group 1 win two starts later when taking out the Prix Jacques Le Marois (Gr 1, 1600m) at Deauville. He finished his three-year-old season with a fine second place finish behind Minding (Galileo) in the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes (Gr 1, 1m) at Ascot.
He was kept training as a four-year-old, in a season that saw him land three Group 1s, the Lockinge Stakes (Gr 1, 1m), Queen Anne Stakes (Gr 1, 1m) and the Prix du Moulin de Longchamp (Gr 1, 1600m).
He retired having won six of his 16 starts and only finished out of the placings on two occasions.
"This is as much a game about relationships as it is horses and our relationship with Haunui goes back to the days of Carnagie," said Godolphin's Vin Cox. "Haunui have managed the southern hemisphere stud career of Iffraaj in exemplary fashion so it is fitting that Ribchester can fill the gap he will leave.
"We are extremely confident of the prospects for the stallion – he has covered good quality mares in each of his two seasons at stud to date and we have a lovely half-sister to Trekking amongst a very good group of weanlings that will find their way into the Godolphin training system. We also have the stakes winning three-quarter sister to Colette and the dam of Chenier amongst a dozen Godolphin mares due to foal to him this season. New Zealanders can breed to him with confidence."
Purchased by his trainer and Aidan O'Ryan for 85,000gns at Book 2 of the 2015 Tattersalls October Yearling Sale, Ribchester is out of Mujarah (Marju), who is herself a half-sister to Group 1 winner Matterhorn (Raven's Pass), Group 3 scorer Bangkok (Australia) and Listed-winning pair Tactic (Sadler's Wells) and Yazzy (Teofilo).
Further back this is the family of 1994 1,000 Guineas (Gr 1, 1m) winner Mehthaaf (Nureyev).
"The news that Iffraaj wasn't going to return was a big blow in light of the current COVID-19 situation but to replace him with Ribchester has certainly put a spring in our step," said Chitty.
"To be offering two Champions and multiple Group1 winners at these service fees, we hope will assist New Zealand breeders to be able to access world class racehorses, from proven sire lines, at extremely good value."
Ribchester's first foals hit the sales ring in Australia this year.
The new recruit will stand alongside another shuttler in Belardo (Lope De Vega), who will stand for a fee of NZ$10,000 (plus GST) in 2020.
