Ribchester's authoritative win promises more to come

Godolphin's exciting colt Ribchester provided the highlight of another successful weekend for the global stable when landing Sunday's G1 Prix Jacques le Marois at Deauville with an authoritative display that promised more to come at the back end of the year.

It followed 24 hours after Godolphin runners dominated the G2 Hungerford Stakes at Newbury, with the John Gosden-trained Richard Pankhurst and the Hugo Palmer-trained Home Of The Brave finishing first and second, respectively.

The only blot on the copy book was Tryster's eighth in the G1 Arlington Million in Chicago in which a wide draw ultimately proved too difficult to overcome. The race was won by hardy campaigner Mondialiste, trained by David O'Meara.

Ribchester has clearly improved and developed since the first of the European Classics in April and May. He is on an upward curve, whereas an obvious conclusion is that Galileo Gold, the G1 2,000 Guineas winner, is feeling a campaign that also featured a notable victory in the G1 St James's Palace Stakes.

Ribchester, following his third in the 2,000 Guineas, went on to win the G3 Jersey Stakes at Royal Ascot and finish a close third in the G1 Sussex Stakes at Goodwood. The Deauville triumph was achieved without fuss - he sat handy to the pace on the near side of the pack, and when he was asked to stake his claim, he had them all beaten in a matter of strides.

Fahey is on record as saying Ribchester is the best he has trained - something of a compliment when you consider he regularly has 300 horses on his books each year - and that the three-year-old will now go straight to the G1 Queen Elizabeth II Stakes at Ascot on October 15.

The win of Richard Pankhurst in the Hungerford at Newbury was significant as it means this one-time Chesham Stakes winner has successfully completed his journey along the comeback trail and is now ready to start fulfilling his potential.

While Arlington and Deauville both provided exciting racing on the international front at the weekend, it would be wrong to brush over Germany and its feature, the G1 Grosser Preis Von Berlin at Hoppegarten.

For it was won by one of Germany's best horses, Protectionist, the 2014 G1 Melbourne Cup winner, who has been expertly brought back to his best by Andreas Wohler.

It was highly significant for Protectionist, a son of Monsun, as it was his first G1 win in Europe and will enhance his prospects as a future stallion.