Al Riffa came from nearly last to win a tightly contested Goffs Vincent O'Brien National Stakes (G1) Sept. 11 at the Curragh, giving trainer Joseph O'Brien his second victory in this contest and rider Dylan Browne McMonagle his first winner at group 1 level.
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McMonagle was cool on the 2-year-old son of Wootton Bassett, asking for his effort inside the final furlong and picking up strongly on the outside to win by a length and a quarter from Proud And Regal.
It was a smart effort on Al Riffa's third start, having only shed his maiden tag at the second attempt at this venue last month.
McMonagle said: “I was traveling so well that I had to take a pull at the two-furlong pole, when I got stuck into him he lengthened really well. It was an unbelievable performance and he loved the soft ground.
"It's a massive day for me and I hope it's the first of many. I'm really grateful to Joseph and the owners for having faith in me.”
Al Riffa was cut to a best-priced 14-1 (from 25) with William Hill for next year's Qipco Two Thousand Guineas (G1) and 12-1 (from 33) with bet365 for the Cazoo Derby (G1).
O'Brien, who won the National Stakes with Thunder Moon in 2020, said: “He was a huge horse as a yearling. I thought buying him that he would make a lovely 3-year-old, no way did I think he would be the two-year-old he has made. His family is all stamina, and to do what he has done is hugely positive.
“We always thought he would be a middle-distance horse but he's not slow and he never looked slow at any stage today. I think he's a Guineas horse and we will take it from there. He is hugely exciting, that's for sure.
"The plan coming here was to go to Longchamp after for the Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere, so we'll see what happens.”
The disappointment of the race was the 8-13 favorite and previously unbeaten Aesop's Fables. He could only finish fourth, but trainer Aidan O'Brien did at least have the satisfaction of seeing his two sons fill the first two places.
The Donnacha O'Brien-trained Proud And Regal continued his good season by staying on into second under Gavin Ryan. The trainer said: “He ran a belter, and that bit of juice in the ground suited him. All going well, he will go for a group 1 in France or maybe the Futurity in England. He wants a mile.”
Keeneland Phoenix Stakes (G1) third Shartash filled the same place here for Johnny Murtagh and Ben Coen.
