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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Australia’s Tranquil Lady Outclasses Blue Wind Opposition

Six days after the G1 Prix Ganay victory of her half-brother State of Rest (Ire) (Starspangledbanner {Aus}), Teme Valley Racing's Tranquil Lady (Ire) (Australia {GB}–Repose) kept the family honour well and truly intact with an authoritative success in Naas' G3 Irish Stallion Farms EBF Blue Wind S. Sent off the 3-1 joint-second favourite in what appeared to be a tight contest, the chestnut who had been fourth in Navan's Listed Salsabil S. on her 3-year-old bow Apr. 23 travelled sweetly in third early under Dylan Browne McMonagle. Cruising to Ballydoyle's 11-4 favourite Lily Pond (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) two out, she was sent on into a clear advantage soon after and relished the run to the line to hand that rival a four-length thrashing, with another 5 1/2 lengths back to the winner's stablemate Tosen Lydia (Ire) (The Gurkha {Ire}) in third. Joseph O'Brien admitted he hadn't been considering the G1 Cazoo Oaks for the impressive winner, but could be in for a change of heart. “She popped her head up today as if she should be going there,” he said. “It wasn't the plan, but it's definitely a conversation we'll have with Richard and Jim [Cockburn] now. We kind of had the Curragh in our minds, but we have to certainly talk about it now.”

Tranquil Lady, who had been second to the smart Limiti di Greccio (Ire) (Elzaam {Aus}) in The Curragh's Listed Staffordstown Stud S. in October, was paying a compliment to the Salsabil one-two Concert Hall (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) and Magical Lagoon (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) here but her trainer believes she was not seen at her best on that occasion. “I don't know why she didn't really fire in Navan, it wasn't a bad run and it was probably a good race but we were hoping for more and it's nice to see her doing it today,” he revealed. “This was plan b to come here, to be honest, but she came out of Navan well and we thought it was a suitable race. I was a bit worried about the [easy] ground and [Teme Valley racing manager] Richard [Ryan] convinced me to run her. I don't think she wants it too soft, but she handled it well and Dylan gave her a lovely ride.” Of the yard's well-regarded Tosen Lydia, who met with defeat for the first time and was left behind by the front two, he added, “She probably won't go to the Oaks. We think she's a good filly, but I'm not sure if she might be best at a mile.”

Tranquil Lady is the third foal out of the unraced dam, with the second State of Rest already a G1 Cox Plate and GI Saratoga Derby Invitational hero prior to his weekend exploits in ParisLongchamp. The second dam Monaassabaat (Zilzal) took the Listed Virginia S. before producing the listed scorers Prince Alzain (Street Sense) and Echo River (Irish River {Fr}), with the latter also second inn the G3 May Hill S. She is also the second dam of the G2 Royal Lodge S. and G2 Vintage S. runner-up Artigiano (Distorted Humor) and listed-placed Dubai Legacy (Discreet Cat).

The third dam is the 16-times-winning dual GI Vanity H. heroine and champion It's In the Air (Mr. Prospector), whose descendants include the triple group 1-winning Champion S. hero Storming Home (GB) (Machiavellian), the GI American Oaks heroine Music Note (A. P. Indy) and her G1 Dubai World Cup-winning son Mystic Guide (Ghostzapper), plus the G1 Poule d'Essai des Pouliches winner Musical Chimes (In Excess {Ire}). Repose's 2-year-old filly Double Scoop (Ire) (Dandy Man {Ire}) was a €180,000 purchase by Anthony Dutrow at the Goffs Orby Yearling Sale.

Saturday, Naas, Ireland
IRISH STALLION FARMS EBF BLUE WIND S.-G3, €65,000, Naas, 5-7, 3yo, f, 10fT, 2:14.75, y/s.
1–TRANQUIL LADY (IRE), 128, f, 3, by Australia (GB)
     1st Dam: Repose, by Quiet American
     2nd Dam: Monaassabaat, by Zilzal
     3rd Dam: It's in the Air, by Mr. Prospector
1ST BLACK TYPE WIN, 1ST GROUP WIN. (€30,000 RNA Wlg '19 GOFNOV; £160,000 Ylg '20 GOFOR). O-Teme Valley; B-Tinnakill Bloodstock Ltd (IRE); T-Joseph O'Brien; J-Dylan Browne McMonagle. €39,000. Lifetime Record: 5-2-1-0, $68,939. *1/2 to State of Rest (Ire) (Starspangledbanner {Aus}), G1SW-Aus, G1SW-Fr, GISW-US, GSP-Eng, SP-Ire, $3,050,924. Werk Nick Rating: F. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Lily Pond (Ire), 128, f, 3, Galileo (Ire)–Alluringly, by Fastnet Rock (Aus).
1ST BLACK TYPE, 1ST GROUP BLACK TYPE. O-Mrs.J Magnier/M Tabor/D Smith/Westerberg; B-Coolmore (IRE); T-Aidan O'Brien. €13,000.
3–Tosen Lydia (Ire), 128, f, 3, The Gurkha (Ire)–Early Addition (Ire), by Makfi (GB).
1ST BLACK TYPE, 1ST GROUP BLACK TYPE. O-Takaya Shimakawa; B-Michael Cunningham (IRE); T-Joseph O'Brien. €6,500.
Margins: 4, 5HF, 5. Odds: 3.00, 2.75, 3.00.
Also Ran: Eclat de Lumiere (Ire), River Rain (Ire), Sister Bridget (Ire). Scratched: Albula (Ire). Click for the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.

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