What looked set to be a slow-motion finish when they straightened for home in the Sept. 14 Irish St Leger (G1) turned into a procession once Dylan Browne McMonagle snapped Al Riffa out of his slumber to move to the front and thunder four lengths clear, setting up an exciting tilt at the Melbourne Cup (G1) Nov. 4.
Joseph O'Brien knows what a Melbourne Cup contender looks like, being one of just two Irish trainers, along with Dermot Weld, to have landed the Flemington showpiece courtesy of Rekindling (2017) and Twilight Payment (2020), and this triple group 1 winner will be the classiest performer he's ever sent to Australia.
An authoritative winner of the National Stakes (G1) on this card three years ago, Al Riffa has been a tremendous poster boy for the Owning stable, landing another group 1 in Germany last season in between runner-up efforts behind City Of Troy and Rebel's Romance, but staying trips are unlocking new potential in the 5-year-old.
"We knew that the horses who were guaranteed stayers were probably going to try and expose the stamina of some of those that weren't so guaranteed," reflected O'Brien. "The pace was really strong and Dylan was cool and confident."
Although he flourished over this trip in the Curragh Cup (G2) last time—incidentally the same race O'Brien's two previous Melbourne Cup winners landed en route to their Flemington heroics—Browne McMonagle did not want to be trading blows with doughty stayers in the early skirmishes and buried the 3-1 shot last but one.
Al Qareem set a strong gallop and set sail for home before the three pole, winding up for a potentially gruelling conclusion. As favored Illinois and the rest of the field began to falter, Rossa Ryan on board Amiloc eased to the front traveling powerfully, but Browne McMonagle had moved smoothly through the field by this stage, barely having to breathe on his mount.
Al Riffa meandered alongside the eventual second at the furlong pole, and the race was over in a few strides, with Al Qareem sticking to his task well to finish third.
"The horse has been a star for us," added O'Brien. "He had a tough race today, but we'll get him fresh and hopefully the Melbourne Cup is next.
"He's a classy horse so he's going to have to carry weight as a result, but he has the right attributes. It will be a huge ask, but that's what racing is all about. He's been through the first step of the protocols, and that's all gone smooth so he'll enter quarantine next week before the process of travelling."
As if Al Riffa needed to fulfil any more requirements for his next assignment, he now sports the silks of Australian Bloodstock, whose colors have been twice carried to victory in the big race with Gold Trip (2022) and Protectionist (2014).
Australian Bloodstock director Jamie Lovett said, "He wasn't a hard horse to identify. When he went out in distance last time, that's what convinced us he might be the horse for the Melbourne Cup. Joseph obviously knows how to win it and we've four Cups between us, so we're well placed."
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