Joseph O’Brien has his sights set on a successful autumn with Al Riffa after his impressive second place in the Coral-Eclipse behind City of Troy. The main goal for the rest of the season is to peak in the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe.
The four-year-old, a Group One winner at two, put up a strong fight against the Derby hero at Sandown, finishing just a length behind under the guidance of jockey Dylan Browne McMonagle.
Al Riffa is now being prepared for a return in the autumn, focusing on making an impact at ParisLongchamp on October 3 for a chance at winning Europe's richest middle-distance prize.
The specific path to the Arc is still up in the air, but connections are hopeful that the son of Wootton Bassett can excel in the second half of the season.
O’Brien commented on the impressive race, stating, "It was a great run, he ran a fantastic race. He’s pulled up well, and we’re looking forward to an autumn campaign for him now, excited about what the rest of the season has in store for him, hopefully."
He went on to say, "The Arc would be the plan. We have a few ideas on how to get there, but nothing has been finalised yet. We will see how the horse feels and then establish our targets from there."