Ribenska

Introducing the newest recruit to our ranks, Ribenska, a gorgeous 3yo filly by multiple Group One winning stallion, Ribchester and out of a half sister to Pretty Pollyanna, a Group One winning 2yo. She fulfilled all our expectations on her racecourse debut, for us, in December when, despite a diabolical draw for a first time out 2yo, drawn 14 of the 14 runners, but showed tremendous potential when making up an enormous amount of ground in the short home straight at Kempton, to finish just over a length behind the vastly more experienced winner, making up around 14 of the fifteen lengths deficit as they turned into the home straight.

Charlie Fellowes, her trainer, immediately commenting “I would defy anyone to say she wasn’t by far the best filly in that race” such was the most exciting impression she made. Indeed that was reflected also by her jockey Kieran Shoemark who commented afterwards, “with a better draw, she would have won this evening”. See for yourself here…

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Purchased at the record breaking Guineas Breeze-Up sale of 2024, Ribenska is extremely well bred being by Ribchester, a multiple Group One winner, successful from 2 to 4 and over six furlongs to a mile. Speedy enough to win the Mill Reef Stakes (Gr 2) over 6f as a juvenile, he then won the Jersey Stakes (G3) over 7f as a 3yo before stepping up to a mile and winning the Group One, Prix Jaques Le Marois. The following season he won three consecutive GROUP ONE races over a mile in the Lockinge Stakes (Gp 1), the Queen Anne Stakes (Gp 1), at Royal Ascot and then the Prix du Moulin (Gp 1) at Longchamp. He was also a narrowly beaten second, on desperate ground in another Group One, the Sussex Stakes (Gp 1) at Glorious Goodwood. A hugely progressive colt, nigh on unbeatable over a mile and, after retiring to stud, he has passed on his Group winning genes to produce a plethora of Black Type winners including at Group One level through Dubai Turf winner, Facteur Cheval.

Ribenska is the second foal from a 7f winner, Preobrajenska, who emanates from a family literally chock full of Group and Black type performers. She is a half sister to Group One winner in Pretty Polyanna, winner of the Prix Morny (Gp 1) as a 2yo and from the family of Classic winning filly, User Friendly.

Preobrajenska’s very first foal was a winner first time out, and reached the lofty BHA rating of 97 being placed at Group three level and, now, with the enhanced genes from Ribchester, descended from the sire line that includes both Iffraaj and Zafonic, she has produced this absolutely gorgeous, beautifully made filly, that we are very hopeful can continue the family’s production line of black type fillies.

Ribenska was, undoubtedly, our pick of the sale, after she really impressed us in her breeze and the way she hit the line when asked, her long raking stride devouring the ground with ease. We were confident this strapping filly would make up into a nice sort and will enhance her value through her career and, with an excellent residual value, in any event, we’re expecting she will bring us plenty of exciting days ahead. She represents yet another step forward for us on Quality Road and, extremely well bought, she represents conspicuously good value indeed, our trainer suggested we increase her insurance to nearly three times her sales value.

Charlie Fellowes

She is in training with Newmarket trainer Charlie Fellowes at the famous Bedford House Stables on Bury Road and whose string continue to go from strength to strength. Following the global exploits of Prince of Arran, placed in three consecutive Melbourne Cups (Gp 1), Charlie continues to smash his previous best, year on year and in 2022 he won the Vintage Stakes (Gp 2) with Marbaan but its with his fillies that he has really made his mark. A Royal Ascot winner two years running with the fillies, Thanks Be and then Onassis, he then won the Sirenia Stakes (Gp 2) with Eve Lodge and in 2023 won the prestigious Palace House Stakes (Gp 3) on Two Thousand Guineas day, with the brilliantly speedy filly, Vadream who so nearly bought off the double, beaten just a nose, in the 2024 renewal. Charlie’s highlights of the 2024 season included a masterful piece of training as the recently acquired The Wizard of Eye won the valuable Victoria Cup at Ascot which he masterminded with, firstly gelding, secondly dropping back in trip and thirdly changing the riding style. Tom Marquand swooping in to win the Cup in the dying strides. Charlie later won a Listed Ascendant Stakes with the exciting Frankel colt, Luther who is another most exciting inmate at Bedford House Stables.

Charlie is excited by the potential of Ribenska initially indicating “I am absolutely delighted to be sent this Ribchester filly from the breeze ups. She’s got a lovely pedigree, a proper Gredley family pedigree, with Pretty Pollyanna, the Group One, Prix Morny winner, under the 2nd dam. I thought she did a lovely breeze, nice long stride, really hit the line well and she’s a good looking filly and should make into a lovely racehorse in time. I’m looking forward to working with her and hopefully turning her into a proper race filly”.

The 2025 season so far…

After a slow start to the year when the filly had a succession of annoying little niggles, Ribenska has done really well in the second half of the season and, despite having to race on the all weather exclusively, due to the lack of rain through the Summer, she finished second, twice, to very promising sorts before she then won a modest maiden, also on the all weather…

Following this, Ribenska made her turf debut in a competitive Ascot handicap, where she acquitted herself well considering she was drawn on the wrong side, suffering from a slow pace and on ground which although softening by the end of the day, had started on the quick side and all these elements played against her strengths. We’re confident she will soon show she is a good deal better than that but it was good to get her started on turf, and we’ve plenty more to look forward to with some exciting plans ahead!

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