Another Distinction For Italian Sire

Press, Volume CVIII, Issue 31728, 11 July 1968, Page 5

Another Distinction For Italian Sire

Ribot’s established | reputation as the most j noted international I sire in the world was i boosted by the recent ! victory of Ribero in the Irish Sweeps Derby. Ribero is a younger brother of Ribocco, winner of the English St Leger and the Irish Sweeps Derby last year. To establish his international reputation Ribot has also sired:— An American three-year-old champion—Tom Rolfe. An English Oaks winner— Long Look. A leading American three-year-old filly—Destro. A horse syndicated for a record sum of $2,400,00 Graustark. A leading European moneyearner with victories in the

St Leger, Irish Sweeps Derby, King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes—Ragusa. A champion English miler —Romulus. Foaled in 1952, Ribot was unbeaten in 16 starts in three countries. He was successful in two runnings of the Prix de I’Arc de Triomphe and in his only English start he took the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes. He is represented in New Zealand by Ribotlight, which is based at the Riccarton Stud. Ribero's two-length defeat of Sir Ivor in the Irish Sweeps Derby last Saturday week was one of the sensations of the racing year. Most writers could find only two feasible explanations for the defeat of Sir Ivor. The first was that he was sickening for the cough, which had affected one of his companions. The other was that he failed to stay the stiff Curragh mile and a half.

“Sir Ivor looked his old self in the paddock and in the parade he was positively frisky, yet in the last two furlongs of the race he ran like a ‘dead horse,’ ” commented “The Times." “Liam Ward rode a copy book race on Sir Ivor, but, as he said afterwards, the colt simply died in his hands just when he seemed poised for victory. Utterly exhausted. Sir Ivor actually pulled himself up two strides past the post, an advance warning, had we but known, that he already had the sickness on him.” Soon after the race Ribero's owner was being sounded out on the possibility of keeping the colt for stud duties in England. Ribero, like all the Ribot progeny, thrives on racing and it was generally agreed that he is still on the upgrade. Bought as a yearling at Keeneland by Mr C. Englehard, Ribero is from Libra, by Hyperion from Weighbridge.