O'Brien organising Al Riffa's American adventure
Before Joseph O'Brien begins to map out a path to the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe, Al Riffa will depart for America.
A juvenile Group One winner, injury cut short his three-year-old season, although he still managed two second-place results.
On his comeback, he was defeated by less than a length to finish fourth in the Prix Ganay. He will now pursue glory in New York.
“Al Riffa is going to Saratoga for the Manhattan Stakes, a Grade One on June 8,” said O’Brien. “He ran well in France, his first run back. He was coming there but got a bit tired and the race didn’t set up nicely for him. He gets a 7lb allowance in America for not winning a Group race last year, so the conditions of the race suit him very well and it’s a lot of money. I think he’s going to stay well and we are kind of dreaming he may be an Arc horse, but the aim is to win a Group One first. The worry is he’s a big horse and the track might not suit but it’s a $ 2 million race. His other options were the Tattersalls Gold Cup against Auguste Rodin or Royal Ascot and meet whatever there.”
Nearer to home, this weekend's Tattersalls Irish 2,000 Guineas will see Atlantic Coast representing the yard.
“Atlantic Coast disappointed in Leopardstown on his first run back but he’s been training well since then. He’ll probably run in the Guineas because it’s a good spot for him,” said O’Brien. “He could end up in the Jersey at Ascot but I think the Guineas is a good spot for him. He’s a smart colt but the Guineas looks like being a hot race. I think he just got stuck in the mud the first time out but he’s a lovely horse.”
O’Brien is also building a strong team for Royal Ascot, adding: “Uxmal won at Killarney the other day and he’ll go for the Queen Alexandra because I think that will suit him. He could be a Melbourne Cup horse, I thought he won well the other day and he’s done nothing wrong. His form from last year has worked out. He’s a tallish horse and always took time. He got beat in a maiden at Gowran when we thought he’d win but A Piece Of Heaven beat him, then he won his maiden and just got beat in a Listed race in France going up to 106. I thought that looked steep but the horse that beat him did well in Dubai. Nusret goes for the Ascot Stakes. He’s a staying handicapper who likes cover. He might end up in a Galway Hurdle or something as well. Stromberg ran well on his first run back behind Donnacha’s horse (Bremen). He’ll probably run in the Gallinule and then go to the Hampton Court at Ascot, that kind of a programme. Dawn Rising will head to Ascot. He took a bit of getting fit this year. His first run was only OK but his second run was a lot better. He loves the long distance. He always gets a bit hot, you’d think a guy of his age would know by now but that is just what he does. He’s done it since he was a young horse.”
Galen, a horse whom O'Brien had very high hopes for, was sidelined following a very good debut behind City Of Troy.
“Galen was second in a maiden last year and will have an entry in the Curragh this weekend,” he said.