G1 Success for Wootton Bassett

Tara Madgwick - Monday August 12

Joseph O’Brien has never been frightened to travel a good horse and tasted G1 success in Germany on Sunday when Wootton Bassett stallion Al Riffa improved off his last start second to City of Troy in the G1 Coral Eclipse to win the Group I Grosser Preis von Berlin (2400m).

A Group I winner at two of the National Stakes (7f) at The Curragh, Al Riffa only had two starts as a three yea-rold for two seconds, but his four year-old season has unfolded more smoothly and after making City of Troy work to win by a length at Sandown he headed to Hoppegarten ready to fire.

Advertisement

Ridden by Dylan Browne McMonagle, Al Riffa scored a facile five length win with connections announcing their intention to head towards the Arc.

&ldq

uo;It’s been a wonderful day here today and Al Riffa put up a really good performance and we’re really proud of him. Dylan gave the horse a fantastic ride and we’ve had a great day,” said Joseph O’Brien.

“He’s had quite a busy season so far; he’s raced in France, the UK, America and now also he’s raced in Germany. So I think he will have a little rest and probably then he will be prepared for the Prix de l’Arc.”

Al Riffa has the overall record of three wins and four seconds from nine starts enjoying success from 1400 to 2400m.

Recent future Arc winners Alpinista and Torquator Tasso both won this race Al Riffa is now priced at 16-1 for the Arc on October 6.

Al Riffa made 150,000 guineas at the Tattersalls October Yearling Sale Book 1.

Al Riffa was bred in France and sold as a foal at the Arqana December Breeding Stock Sale in 2020 for €31,000 before being re-offered at the Tattersalls October Yearling Sale Book 1 where he was bought by his trainer for 150,000 guineas.

Al Riffa is the first winner for unraced Galileo mare Love on My Mind, a sister to multiple Group III winning stayer Mizzou, who was second in a Group I Royal Ascot Gold Cup. 

Love on My Mind is from s takes-winning stayer Moments of Joy a daughter of two time Group I winning mare My Emma, who won the Yorkshire Oaks and Prix Vermeille so it’s no surprise Al Riffa is effective as a stayer.

Al Riffa is one of nine Group I winners for Wootton Bassett, who is back at Coolmore Australia this spring with his first Australian runners to hit tracks this season.

Wootton Bassett (GB)is all class and back in Australia this spring, click for more info.

Advertisment
More Reading...
Capitalist 2YO Wins for Doyle
Nathan Doyle and his team would be bubbling with excitement surrounding the return of their unbeaten G1 star Private Harry, but as they say ‘little fish are sweet’ and the stable were in the winner’s circle at Wyong on Tuesday with a two year-old son of Capitalist.
Sires With Winners - Monday June 23
Here is the full list of 29 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Positive Build Up to Karaka Weanling Sale
Stars of the future go under the hammer at Karaka on Thursday with New Zealand Bloodstock’s National Weanling Sale set to commence at 10am.
Storm Boy Retired to Coolmore Australia
An utterly dominant winner of the $3 million Magic Millions 2YO Classic, the hugely exciting son of the international sire sensation Justify is set to join the Coolmore Australia roster in 2025.
Sires With Winners - Sunday June 22
Here is the full list of 76 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
G1 Tatts Tiara – Where Are They Now?
The last Group I race of the Australian racing season, the $700,000 Tatts Tiara (1400m) will be run this Saturday and as a fillies and mares feature the winner is often headed straight to stud, so we’re taking a look at where these girls are at.
Sires With Winners - Wednesday June 25
Here is the full list of 42 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Nice 2YO Winner for Vinery Value Sire
He might be the least expensive sire on the Vinery roster this spring at a fee of just $6,600, but Headwater gets his share of winners and produced a new two year-old winner at Doomben on Wednesday.
Irish Oaks Possible for Royal Ascot Fairytale Filly
The biggest story in terms of our audience reads from Royal Ascot last week was by far and away the one on the Aussie owned underdog three year-old filly Cercene, who captured the Group I Coronation Stakes.
Sires With Winners - Tuesday June 24
Here is the full list of 27 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.