Coolmore shuttler Wootton Bassett (GB) has been doing a lot of amazing things this year and he might just have a Melbourne Cup contender with the Joseph O’Brien trained Al Riffa putting himself in the picture with a facile five length win in the Group II Curragh Cup (1m6f) overnight.
The Curragh Cup was used as a stepping stone for Rekindling and Twilight Payment, who both subsequently travelled to Flemington and won the Melbourne Cup for O’Brien, who is looking to plot a similar path with Al Riffa.
A five year-old stallion that was a Group I winner at two over 7f, Al Riffa has developed into an elite G1 performer as an older horse.
Second at Royal Ascot in the Group II Hardwicke Stakes to Rebel’s Romance, he relished the slightly longer trip here to win as he pleased for Dylan Browne McMonagle putting up five lengths on his nearest rival.
“That was brilliant. Al Riffa has got a lot of class and he was last to first in a National Stakes (7f at two) here," said stable representative Kevin Blake.
“No one ever felt that he needed this trip, but it made sense. He was very relaxed and Dylan said he was a very easy ride over that trip. I'd say it's most likely that he'll go straight to the Irish St Leger (G1)from here. There is a possibility of the Pries Von Berlin (G1) he won last year but I'd say it's more likely he'll go straight to the Irish Leger.
“The Melbourne Cup is in the mind thereafter. We all know what comes with that but it's what we'd like to do, if we're allowed.”
Al Riffa has the overall record four wins and six placings from 14 starts enjoying success from 1400 to 2400m.
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 highlights the uncanny versatility of Wootton Bassett, who gets two year-olds, classic horses and everything in between.
He is scheduled to be back at Coolmore Australia this spring at a fee of $385,000.
