Al Riffa (Fr)

Australian Bloodstock's Al Riffa (Wootton Bassett) was the only Group 1 winner lining up for Sunday's G1 Comer Group International Irish St Leger and as he crossed the line alone at The Curragh it certainly looked like it. Always cruising throughout the generously-paced 14-furlong test under a clinically-judged ride from Dylan Browne McMonagle, the 3-1 shot swamped the three-year-old Amiloc (Postponed) a furlong out before powering to a four-length success. "I was able to take my time and every time I asked him he was there," the rider said of...

Bringing an end to a three-year winless streak at Royal Ascot for Charlie Appleby, Dubawi's international heavyweight Rebel's Romance landed the required knockout blow in Saturday's G2 Hardwicke Stakes. Always travelling easily behind the genuine pace, the 6-4 favourite took control two out and drew away under William Buick to beat Al Riffa (Wootton Bassett) by 1 3/4 lengths, with Ghostwriter (Invincible Spirit) 1 1/2 lengths away in third. "He's a worldwide superstar--I have a picture of him on my bedside table, he means so much to us," commented Appleby, whose last...

Sunday, ParisLongchamp, France, post time: 16:25, PRIX GANAY-G1, €300,000, 4yo/up, 10 1/2fT Field: Royal Rhyme (Ire) (Lope De Vega {Ire}), Al Riffa (Fr) (Wootton Bassett {GB}), Horizon Dore (Fr) (Dabirsim {Fr}), Map Of Stars (GB) (Sea The Stars {Ire}), Sosie (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) and Higher Leaves (Ire) (Golden Horn {GB}). TDN Verdict: After straightforward wins in the G3 Prix Exbury and G2 Prix d'Harcourt, Map Of Stars goes for gold here with momentum on his side and a profile that begs a Group 1 win. First time up,...

Saturday, Navan, Ireland, post time: 15:55, IRISH STALLION FARMS EBF SALSABIL STAKES-G3, €39,000, 3yo, f, 10f 20y Field: Barnavara (Ire) (Calyx {GB}), Catalina Delcarpio (Ire) (Lope De Vega {Ire}), Ecstatic (Jpn) (Lord Kanaloa {Jpn}), Island Hopping (Ire) (Wootton Bassett {GB}), J M's Joy (Ire) (Elzaam {Aus}), Medici Venus (Tiz The Law), Spicy Margarita (Ire) (Earthlight {Ire}), Tarima (Ire) (Lope De Vega {Ire}), Wemightakedlongway (Ire) (Australia {GB}). TDN Verdict: TDN Rising Star Catalina Delcarpio looked every inch an Oaks filly when impressing in the Leopardstown maiden which has become a pointer to...

Group 1 winner Al Riffa (Fr) (Wootton Bassett {GB}), a two-time winner at the highest level, leads the 16-strong G1 Qatar Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe field by Timeform ratings at 125, the company announced on Friday. Trained by Joseph O'Brien, the 4-year-old is rated four pounds inferior to Calandagan (Ire) (Gleneagles {Ire}), who finished second to Al Riffa's third behind City Of Troy in the G1 Eclipse earlier this season. Another rated higher is Goliath (Ger) (Adlerflug {Ger}), who is two pounds above the G1 National Stakes and G1...

Spirit Dancer (GB) (Frankel {GB}), who won the 2023 G2 Bahrain International Trophy, will attempt to add the 2024 edition to his haul as the first dual winner of the $1-million race, as the entry list was released on Thursday. The Richard Fahey trainee, who is owned by Sir Alex Ferguson, Ged Mason and Peter Done, will face rivals from seven countries outside the Kingdom of Bahrain. Fahey said of his G2 Neom Turf Cup hero who has been off the course since a run in Dubai at the end...

A field of 16 will take part in Sunday's G1 Qatar Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe at ParisLongchamp, with Aidan O'Brien responsible for the only withdrawals on Thursday morning with the expected easy ground unsuitable for Auguste Rodin (Ire) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) and Luxembourg (Ire) (Camelot {GB}). That leaves the G1 Irish Derby hero Los Angeles (Ire) (Camelot {GB}) and Continuous (Jpn) (Heart's Cry {Jpn}) to represent Ballydoyle with the Wertheimers' G1 Grand Prix de Paris hero Sosie (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) currently shading favouritism for an open renewal...

Following Monday's confirmation stage, 18 horses remain in contention for Sunday's G1 Qatar Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe at Longchamp, including the three-year-old Sosie (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}), who has topped the ante-post betting since registering his second consecutive victory over the course and distance in the G2 Prix Niel. He also won the G1 Grand Prix de Paris on his previous start. Sosie is one of three potential runners for Andre Fabre, who will be seeking a record-extending ninth win in the Arc. Fabre is also set to...

Legendary Japanese reinsman Yutaka Take will be aboard Al Riffa (Fr) (Wootton Bassett {GB}) in the G1 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe, according to Japan's NetKeiba publication. Now owned by Masaaki Matsushima and the Al Riffa Syndicate, the 4-year-old colt claimed the G1 Grosser Preis von Berlin at Hoppegarten in their colours on Aug. 11. Take will be making his 11th attempt in the storied contest, and first since Do Deuce (Jpn) (Heart's Cry {Jpn}) in 2022. Matsushima was also involved in the ownership of the latter. "I received an...

Proving that the mile-and-a-half trip holds no fears, Al Riffa (Fr) (Wootton Bassett {GB}--Love On My Mind {Ire}, by Galileo {Ire}) made his first start in the Masaaki Matsushima silks a resoundingly impressive one as he got back on the group 1-winning trail in Sunday's Grosser Preis von Berlin. Always happy in the box seat under Dylan Browne McMonagle, the Joseph O'Brien-trained Arc hopeful stayed on powerfully to take control 300 metres from the finish and stormed to a five-length success from Narrativo (Ger) (Adlerflug {Ger}), with Best Of Lips...

Group 1 winner Al Riffa (Fr) (Wootton Bassett {GB}) will race for the Al Riffa Syndicate and Masaaki Matsushima beginning in Sunday's G1 Grosser Preis von Berlin. The Joseph O'Brien trainee's long-term goal remains the G1 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe. Matsushima has already enjoyed some success in Europe as the part-owner of G1 Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud winner Broome (Ire) (Australia {GB}). The 4-year-old won the G1 National Stakes at two, and added runner-up finishes in both the G3 International S. and G2 Prix Guillaume d'Ornano. Fourth in the...

Well, he's clearly not Frankel, but City Of Troy (Justify--Together Forever {Ire}, by Galileo {Ire}) at least stayed on a winning course as he provided more nervous tension than dazzle at Sandown on Saturday. Labouring rather than surging up the hill to the culmination of the G1 Coral-Eclipse, Ballydoyle's Derby hero proved that he had the grit to get the unique British double done as he ultimately satisfied the abundant odds-on takers. Connections were quick to admit that he had underwhelmed here, so we were again left with a sense...