Al Riffa Stakes Arc Claims With Impressive Group 1 Success

Sunday saw Al Riffa (4c Wootton Bassett– Love On My Mind, by Galileo) return to his brilliant best with an impressive victory in the Group 1 Grosser Preis von Berlin.

A top-flight winner of the National Stakes as a two-year-old, Joseph O’Brien’s charge was beaten just three parts of a length in the Group 1 Prix Ganay on his seasonal return and was last seen finishing second to City Of Troy in the Coral-Eclipse.

The Irish raider was sent off favourite as he stepped up to a mile and a half in the Hoppegarten feature and chased the leaders for much of the way under Dylan Browne McMonagle. Shaken up with two and a half furlongs left to race, he led a furlong later and boasted a three length advantage entering the final furlong. He went on to score by five lengths, with another four and a half lengths back to the third horse.

“It's been a wonderful day,” said O’Brien. “Al Riffa put up a really good performance so we're very proud. Dylan gave the horse a fantastic ride. He's had a busy season so far, racing in France, Britain, America and now Germany, so I think he'll have a little rest and then be prepared for the Arc.”

The dual Group 1 winner subsequently shortened to 14/1 for the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe, with previous winners of Sunday’s feature, including Alpinista and Torquator Tasso, having gone on to win the prestigious prize.

The winning rider added, “He's a special horse who gave me my first Group 1 winner as a two-year-old. He had a little setback last year, but he's come back as good as ever. I always thought he'd improve for the step up in trip and he was a good second to City Of Troy last time. He showed what he can do there.”

The son of Wootton Bassett was bred by Haras d’Etreham, Benoit Chalmel, Cofinvest and Meridian International.