Ribchester Royal Ascot Target A Late Call

A decision on whether smart colt Ribchester runs in the G1 St James's Palace Stakes on Tuesday or the G3 Jersey Stakes on Wednesday will be taken as late as possible, John Ferguson, Godolphin's chief executive and racing manager, revealed when outlining the stable's Royal Ascot plans.

Ribchester gave a clear indication of his talent and potential when third in the G1 2,000 Guineas behind Galileo Gold and Massaat at Newmarket on April 30 -- and he has since pleased trainer Richard Fahey.

The three-year-old is one of a battalion of 15 Godolphin horses being lined up for G1 targets at the Royal meeting next week.

"The St James's Palace and the Jersey are both options for Ribchester, and a decision doesn't have to be made until the last minute," Ferguson pointed out.

Emotionless, who by-passed the 2,000 Guineas at Newmarket, is set to make his seasonal debut in the St James's Palace Stakes. He has not run since last year's G1 Dewhurst Stakes on October 10, after which he was operated on for the removal of a bone chip in his knee.

"Cymric (the John Gosden-trained colt) will act as pacemaker for Emotionless in the St James's Palace," Ferguson reported.

"Emotionless seems very well at home. Charlie (Appleby, the trainer) is very pleased with him, and he is ready to run again," he added.

Royal Ascot never fails to attract a wide spread of the best horses, and this year seems certain to live up to expectations.

Godolphin anticipate being three-handed in the G1 Queen Anne Stakes, the opening race of the meeting. Belardo, the impressive winner of Newbury's G1 Lockinge Stakes, will again have his Roger Varian-trained stablemate Barchan as pacemaker, and the pair will be joined by the Richard Hannon-trained Toormore.

The Appleby-trained Jungle Cat, a close second in the Palace House Stakes at Newmarket, runs in the G1 King's Stand Stakes.

On the second day of Royal Ascot, it is the turn of Tryster to come under the G1 spotlight in the Prince Of Wales's Stakes. The five-year-old ran up a sequence of eight wins from nine starts in a 14-month period prior to finishing third in the G1 Dubai Turf, in which he was beaten two and a half lengths.

The Michael Halford-trained Anamba, fresh from her comeback win at Naas on May 29, heads the Godolphin fillies being aimed at the G1 Coronation Stakes on June 17. The trainer reported Anamba to have come on for her first outing of the season.

Trainer Saeed bin Suroor runs Promising Run, the G3 Musidora Stakes third, while Johnston has lined up Fireglow. Lumiere will be seeking to atone for her disappointing run in the G1 1,000 Guineas at Newmarket when she has a crack at the sprinters in the G1 Commonwealth Cup. Log Out Island, the brilliant tearaway winner at Newbury last month, will carry the Godolphin colours in this sprinting test for the three-year-olds.

Finally, the John O'Shea-trained Holler bids to become another Australian sprinter to win a Royal Ascot race. This horse, well-regarded by Godolphin in Australia, is to be ridden by James McDonald, who remains on target to regain the Sydney jockeys' title at the end of next month.