Shaikha wins on debut at Deauville on Thursday
Haunui Farm shuttler Ribchester (Iffraaj) notched up his seventh winner on Thursday when the Andre Fabre-trained and Al Shaqab-raced Shaikha (2 f ex Kerila by Makfi) broke her maiden over 1200 metres at Deauville.
Having her first career start, Shaikha raced away to a three length victory over Assryian Queen (Invincible Spirit) with the same distance back to Malavath (Mehmas) in third. The winner was bought for €240,000 by Al Shaqab at last year’s Deauville August Yearling Sale.
Ribchester will stand for an unchanged fee of NZ$15,000 (plus GST) this season.