Ribchester © Photo Healy Racing
Richard Fahey would have no qualms about taking Ribchester to the Breeders' Cup Mile if given the green light by Sheikh Mohammed.
Having already won the Lockinge, Queen Anne and Prix du Moulin this season, Ribchester was sent off the 2-1 favourite to add another Group One in the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes at Ascot on Saturday.
However, just as he was in the Sussex Stakes on heavy ground, Ribchester was beaten, with Persuasive being an impressive winner, and Fahey would love the chance to see him on a quick surface once more.
"It was a good, solid run, but any trainer who is happy with second shouldn't be training. He has won on soft ground and I'd love to get him back on decent ground, but every time we enter him I'm afraid it ends up soft," Fahey said.
"His best performance for me was when he won the Queen Anne and broke the track record. I did contemplate taking him out. I had a walk of the track and didn't think it walked that bad. I was surprised by how the jockeys said it rode, so I won't get caught out at Ascot again with that."
Asked on Racing UK about the Breeders' Cup, he replied: "At the minute I would have to speak to Sheikh Mohammed, Joe Osborne (Godolphin chief executive) and the team. All I can say is he left one nut and trotted up like a daisy. He has come out of the race well.
"I would be more than happy to take him. We'll give him a couple of canters this week and see how he his. If any horse could do it, it is Ribchester. He's extremely tough and loves his job and loves his work.
"And let's not be disrespectful to the winner, I've a feeling John Gosden is a genius and you got the feeling they were quietly confident. On the ground, she beat him fair and square."
