Al Riffa, a 5-year-old from Coolmore’s late father sensation Wootton Bassett, has already given a glimpse of what he can do on the international stage second only to Godolphin’s globetrotter Romance of the Rebels at Royal Ascot in June and a seventh start at the last start in the Melbourne Cup in November.
Al Riffa, drawn wide in barrier 19 in the 24-runner field at Flemington, and with a top weight of 59 kilograms (130 pounds), found himself at the rear of the field under Mark Zahra and made up ground in the closing stages of the Cup to take seventh place – 9 1/4 lengths behind the winner Half Yours.
“We were pleased with his run in Melbourne, and now we’re looking forward to Hong Kong,” O’Brien said. “After that, we could also watch the World Cup in Dubai next year.”
O’Brien believes the Irish St Leger (G1) winner, owned by Australian outfit Bloodstock, is now ready for a serious international campaign as he makes his first appearance in Hong Kong.
“He’s a big, powerful horse,” O’Brien said. “His form has been very consistent at a very high level over the last few seasons and when he has been shipped around the world he has taken the journey in stride.
“He’s had a busy season so far and we’re looking forward to seeing him run in Hong Kong. I think he’s probably the ideal type for the Vase. His second behind Rebel’s Romance (in the Hardwicke Stakes) covered the same distance on fast ground, in conditions not dissimilar to what he’ll get at Sha Tin.”
Al Riffa first came to prominence in his native Ireland when he won the National Stakes (G1) at the Curragh as a two-year-old. He reappeared on the radar when, as a three-year-old, he finished second to subsequent Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe (G1) winner Ace Impact in the Prix Guillaume D’Ornano (G2) at Deauville, on just his fifth start.
O’Brien said there was good reason the young horse was ridden sparingly at that stage.
“He was preparing for the Irish Two Thousand Guineas but returned a dirty scope and had to bypass the race,” he said. “He had picked up a little bug and that meant he had missed the first part of his three-year campaign.
“Then he was targeted for the Irish Champion Stakes and suffered another setback. After that, there was really nothing suitable for him at that point in the season. We didn’t want him to travel anymore. He was just a bit unlucky and missed a few important stages that year.”
Al Riffa’s four-year days were simpler. Gaining experience and physical strength, it became an important season when he won another match at the highest level.
“He won his Group 1 in Germany (in the Grosser Preis von Berlin) and he was second to City Of Troy in the Group 1 Eclipse Stakes,” O’Brien said.
“He had some really high-quality moldings. And this year, at age 5, we gradually got him comfortable, stepped him up in the trip, and he’s gone to a new level again. He’s also proven to be versatile when it comes to track conditions (going).
“At Royal Ascot he was rated 117 on the fast ground on the day, and when he won the Irish St Leger it was on the soft side and he was rated 120. The ground is not a problem for him.”
Dylan Browne McMonagle, who has ridden Al Riffa for all five of his victories, will be back in the saddle at the Hong Kong Vase, where the pair will take on fellow international raiders Spear winner of last year’s race, and the winner of the 2024 Irish Derby (G1). Los Angeles trained by O’Brien’s father, Aidan.
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