Hibaayeb claims Ribblesdale Stakes for Godolphin
Frankie Dettori is probably the ultimate confidence jockey and nothing is a greater restorative to him than a big winner.
The smash-and-grab victory for Invisible Man in the Royal Hunt Cup on Wednesday got the smile back on his face and there was another of the jockey’s trademark flying dismounts after Hibaayeb won the Group Two Ribblesdale Stakes.
Dettori decided to hold Hibaayeb off the early pace that was set by Acquainted and was still happy to bide his time when first Middle Club and then Principal Role made their runs for the line early in the home straight.
Hibaayeb took up the running with about one-and-a-half furlongs left and quickly put daylight between her and the rest to win by three-and-three-quarter lengths.
The only ones who got close to her - Eldalil and Gallic Star - were also coming from off the early speed and the race was another bad one for Aidan O’Brien whose two runners, Awe Inspiring and Cabaret, finished eighth and ninth respectively.
This was Godolphin’s fifth Ribblesdale Stakes success following Bahr (1998), Fairy Queen (1999), Punctilious (2004) and Flying Cloud (2009) and came after the brains trust there had decided not to run Hibaayeb in the Oaks after she had run down the field in the 1000 Guineas and then finished third in a Group One in France during May. As Simon Crisford, Godolphin’s racing manager explained: “She was really disappointing in the Guineas. She didn’t run a yard and we were a little bit surprised by that and we felt we’d go for the Prix Saint-Alary. She ran really well, finished third, and we could have easily gone for the Oaks after that. But we felt that the Oaks would be tough enough after France and we decided to wait for Ascot and now we’ll try her in the Irish Oaks.
“She travelled well and always looked like the winner today. It is very satisfying when horses win top-class races as two-year-olds and then come on and win good races the following year, especially as she is a home-bred and by Singspiel.”
Hibaayeb was running in a tongue tie for the second time but Dettori believed that the key was the decision to step her up to 12 furlongs. “She relished the distance over a mile-and-a-half. She won the Fillies’ Mile her in the autumn, so she likes the track, and the stiff mile-and-a-half is what she wanted. The further we were going, the further she was going to win,” he said.
Like all those at the top of their profession, Dettori can make this game look ridiculously easy at times. “Well, I had the horse to do it,” he said. “I had a good pitch, she was nice and relaxed, I moved out when I wanted to and everything was perfect – she gave me a fabulous ride.”
The win also put Dettori firmly in contention to finish the meeting as the top jockey, which he has not done since 2004.
“Yesterday, the first one, you’re almost feeling the choke, but, today, it’s nice to win a big one. Back to winning ways and the team is happy.”
Second place is not usually something that makes Sir Michael Stoute happy but he declared himself pleased with the run of Eldalil, who finished with a wet sail and more than justified the bold move to run after winning her maiden at Newmarket in April.
“She obviously stays and ran a blinder,” said Stoute. “She got the trip well and is progressive.”
Angus Gold, racing manager to owner Hamdan Al Maktoum, added: “It was a big step up and she was slowly into her stride. She was probably a bit further back than we would have ideally wanted and would always struggle against more seasoned fillies from there but I liked the way she came home.
“She was beaten by a good filly, who already had the form in the book, and this was only our third run. The future options are greater because we know she stays and we’ll have to see what Michael wants to do with her, he usually likes to go gently, gently with these fillies.”
Stoute can certainly step forward with confidence now.
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