Arc Contender for Wootton Bassett

Joseph O’Brien has never been frightened to travel a good horse and tasted G1 success in Germany on Sunday when talented stallion Al Riffa (4h Wootton Bassett x Love on My Mind, by Galileo) improved off his last start (second to City of Troy in the G1 Coral Eclipse) to win the Group I Grosser Preis von Berlin (2400m).

A Group I winner at two of the National Stakes (7f) at The Curragh, Al Riffa only had two starts as a three year-old for two seconds, but his four year-old season has unfolded more smoothly and after making City of Troy work to win by a length at Sandown he headed to Hoppegarten ready to fire.

Ridden by Dylan Browne McMonagle, Al Riffa scored a facile five length win with connections announcing their intention to head towards the Arc.

“It’s been a wonderful day here today and Al Riffa put up a really good performance and we’re really proud of him. Dylan gave the horse a fantastic ride and we’ve had a great day,” said Joseph O’Brien.

“He’s had quite a busy season so far; he’s raced in France, the UK, America and now also he’s raced in Germany. So I think he will have a little rest and probably then he will be prepared for the Prix de l’Arc.”

Al Riffa has the overall record of three wins and four seconds from nine starts enjoying success from 1400 to 2400m.

Recent future Arc winners Alpinista and Torquator Tasso both won this race and Al Riffa is now priced at 16-1 for the Arc on October 6.

Al Riffa was bred in France and sold as a foal at the Arqana December Breeding Stock Sale in 2020 for €31,000 before being re-offered at the Tattersalls October Yearling Sale Book 1 where he was bought by his trainer for 150,000 guineas.

Al Riffa is the first winner for unraced Galileo mare Love on My Mind, a sister to multiple Group III winning stayer Mizzou, who was second in a Group I Royal Ascot Gold Cup.

Love on My Mind is from stakes-winning stayer Moments of Joy a daughter of two time Group I winning mare My Emma, who won the Yorkshire Oaks and Prix Vermeille so it’s no surprise Al Riffa is effective as a stayer.

Al Riffa is one of nine Group I winners for Wootton Bassett, who is back at Coolmore Australia this spring with his first Australian runners to hit tracks this season.