The exceptional qualities of Coolmore shuttler Wootton Bassett (GB) are such that he can get fast juveniles and also high class older horses over a distance and we are set to see a taste of it this spring as media reports suggest Australian Bloodstock have purchased his top class 5YO stallion Al Riffa.
Australian Bloodstock have twice won the Melbourne Cup with high class imports Protectionist (Ger) and Gold Trip (Fr) with Al Riffa fitting a similar profile as an established elite performer.
Trained by Joseph O’Brien, Al Riffa was a Group I winner at two of the National Stakes (7f) in Ireland and then had an interrupted preparation at three which saw him start just twice for two seconds.
He returned to Group I winning form last year in the Grosser Preis von Berlin (2400m) and then was unplaced in the Arc when he travelled wide and was not suited by the tempo.
Second at Royal Ascot in the Group II Hardwicke Stakes to Rebel’s Romance, Al Riffa dominated last start when stepping out in trip to win the Group II Curragh Cup (1m6f) by five lengths earning him equal favouritism for the Melbourne Cup.
Standing at Coolmore Australia this spring at a fee of $385,000, Wootton Bassett was the star attraction at the Coolmore stallion parade on Sunday.
