Tag: Al Riffa (Fr)

Aidan O’Brien Dominates Derby Nominations At Latest Entry Stage

After the Mar. 7 scratching stage, 83 horses remain signed on for the 2023 G1 Derby at Epsom Downs on Saturday, June 3. Worth £1.5 million, the 1 1/2-mile contest is the richest race in Britain.

Of the 83, 45 are trained in Ireland and of that number, a colossal 31 are trained by Ballydoyle supremo Aidan O'Brien for various Coolmore partnerships. Top of the heap are Deep Impact (Jpn)'s G1 Vertem Futurity Trophy hero Auguste Rodin (Jpn) and the late Shadai kingpin's son's Victoria Road (Ire) (Saxon Warrior {Jpn}). The last-named won the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf at Keeneland in November. The winning duo of Alfred Munnings (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) and Tower Of London (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) are other potential Classic stars-in-waiting.

O'Brien's sons, Joseph and Donnacha, field eight between them, led by Group 1 winners Proud And Regal (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) for the latter, and Al Riffa (Fr) (Wootton Bassett {GB}) for the former.

There are also three chances for His Majesty the King and Her Majesty the Queen Consort to scoop the Blue Riband this year, with the G1 QIPCO 2000 Guineas-nominated winner Slipofthepen (GB) (Night Of Thunder {Ire}) trained by John and Thady Gosden, the William Haggas-trained group-placed Desert Hero (GB) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) and the winning Sir Michael Stoute charge Circle Of Fire (GB) (Almanzor {Fr}) all nominated. Stoute claimed the 2022 Derby with Desert Crown (GB) (Nathaniel {Ire}), and he also entered Crystal Mariner (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) for Robert Ng.

The Gosdens have the largest UK Derby arsenal with 15 colts nominated. Anchoring their brigade is George Strawbridge's 'TDN Rising Star' Epictetus (Ire) (Kingman {GB}), who was second in the Vertem Futurity Trophy S. behind the aforementioned Auguste Rodin.

Of Andrew Balding's quartet, three bear the colours of King Power Racing led by G2 Royal Lodge S. hero The Foxes (Ire) (Churchill {Ire}).

The second entry stage is set for Tuesday, Apr. 4.

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Wootton Bassett’s Al Riffa Swoops For Group 1 Glory At The Curragh

Second to the reopposing Hans Andersen (GB) (Frankel {GB}) in his July 16 debut over seven furlongs at the Curragh, Jassim Bin Ali Al Attiyah's Al Riffa (Fr) (Wootton Bassett {GB}–Love On My Mind {Ire}, by Galileo {Ire}) graduated over the same course and distance last month and stepped forward to provide apprentice jockey Dylan Browne McMonagle with a career high in Sunday's G1 Goffs Vincent O'Brien National S., his third seven-furlong outing at the Co. Kildare venue. The 9-1 chance settled into a rhythm behind all five rivals through halfway and made a move forward with three furlongs remaining. Coming under increased urging passing the quarter-mile marker, he was ridden to launch his challenge approaching the final furlong and kept on strongly in the closing stages to prevail by 1 1/2 lengths from Proud And Regal (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}).

“It's unbelievable,” said Browne McMonagle after claiming a maiden top-level success. “He was very straightforward from the gates. He jumped, travelled good and loved the soft conditions. I was really happy the whole way through. I was keen to move up to the boys going to the three [furlong pole]. I didn't want them to get too far in front of me in that ground because it would have been hard to peg them back. As soon as I gave him a little kick in the belly and he moved onto the bridle, I was always the winner. I was travelling over the top of them, he picked up good and put it to bed very quick. It's hard to believe and, hopefully it's the first of many. It's down to Joseph [O'Brien] and a massive thanks to everyone behind the scenes at home. I wouldn't be here without my family, Mum and Dad and everyone's here today so it's great. It means a lot, I couldn't have done it on a bigger stage and it's great to get one.”

Al Riffa, who becomes the sixth Group 1 winner for his sire (by Iffraaj {GB}), is the lone scorer produced by an unraced daughter of the stakes-winning Moments Of Joy (GB) (Darshaan {GB}), who also threw the dual G3 Sagaro S. victor Mizzou (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), G3 Give Thanks S. placegetter Eternal Bounty (GB) (Galileo {Ire}) and G3 Noblesse S. third Unity (Ire) (Sadler's Wells). Eternal Bounty is the dam of G3 Hampton Court S. third Secret Protector (War Front) while Unity's leading performer is Listed Wild Flower S. victor Crimean Tatar (Tur) (Sea The Stars {Ire}). Moments Of Joy is the leading representative of G1 Yorkshire Oaks and G1 Prix Vermeille-winning champion My Emma (GB) (Marju {Ire}), herself a half-sister to G1 St Leger and G1 Gold Cup hero Classic Cliche (Ire) (Salse). Love On My Mind has a yearling filly by Land Force (Ire) to come.

Sunday, Curragh, Ireland
GOFFS VINCENT O'BRIEN NATIONAL S.-G1, €400,000, Curragh, 9-11, 2yo, c/f, 7fT, 1:29.31, sf.
1–AL RIFFA (FR), 131, c, 2, by Wootton Bassett (GB)
1st Dam: Love On My Mind (Ire), by Galileo (Ire)
2nd Dam: Moments Of Joy (GB), by Darshaan (GB)
3rd Dam: My Emma (GB), by Marju (Ire)
1ST BLACK-TYPE WIN; 1ST GROUP WIN; 1ST GROUP 1 WIN. (€31,000 Wlg '20 ARQDEC; 150,000gns Ylg '21 TATOCT). O-Jassim Bin Ali Al Attiyah; B-SARL de Chambure Haras d'Etreham, Benoit Chalmel & SARL Compagni (FR); T-Joseph O'Brien; J-Dylan Browne McMonagle. €240,000. Lifetime Record: 3-2-1-0, $256,256. Werk Nick Rating: C+. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree, or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Proud And Regal (Ire), 131, c, 2, Galileo (Ire)–Simply Perfect (GB), by Danehill. 1ST GROUP 1 BLACK TYPE. O-Derrick Smith, Susan Magnier, Michael Tabor & Westerberg; B-Coolmore (IRE); T-Donnacha O'Brien. €80,000.
3–Shartash (Ire), 131, c, 2, Invincible Spirit (Ire)–Shamreen (Ire), by Dubawi (Ire). O-H H The Aga Khan; B-H H The Aga Khan's Studs SC (IRE); T-Johnny Murtagh. €40,000.
Margins: 1 1/4, HF, 1 1/4. Odds: 9.00, 9.00, 14.00.
Also Ran: Aesop's Fables (Ire), Hans Andersen (GB), Marbaan (GB).

 

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