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| Staff Writer |
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Al Riffa put himself firmly in the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe picture with a dominant display in the Gr.1 Grosser Preis von Berlin at Hoppegarten on Sunday, handing trainer Joseph O'Brien his first success in the prestigious German contest.
The four-year-old Wootton Bassett colt, co-owned by Khalifa Bin Ahmed Alattiyah, was stepping up to a mile and a half for the first time but made light work of the new trip under a masterful ride from Dylan Browne McMonagle.
Breaking smartly from the stalls, Al Riffa travelled prominently throughout before asserting his superiority in the straight, powering clear to score by five lengths from the Italian raider Narrativo.
The victory marked Al Riffa's first success in nearly two years, following his triumph in the Gr.1 National Stakes as a juvenile, and saw his chances to feature in the iconic Arc increase tremendously.
The Grosser Preis von Berlin has proven a key pointer for Arc success in recent years, with 2021 winner Alpinista going on to Longchamp glory the following season, while that year's runner-up Torquator Tasso claimed the Paris showpiece just weeks after his German defeat.
O'Brien, who has yet to saddle an Arc winner, will be hoping Al Riffa can emulate those recent Berlin heroes and deliver him a maiden success in Europe's most prestigious middle-distance contest.
Speaking after the race, a delighted O'Brien said: "It's been a wonderful day and Al Riffa put up a really good performance, so we're very proud. Dylan gave the horse a fantastic ride. He's had a busy season so far, racing in France, Britain, America and now Germany, so I think he'll have a little rest and then be prepared for the Arc."
The victory was particularly sweet for McMonagle, who was celebrating just his second Group One success, with his breakthrough at the highest level coming aboard the same horse in the 2021 National Stakes.
"It's my first time in Germany so it's great to come here with such a live chance in a big race," said the winning rider. "He's a special horse who gave me my first Group One winner as a two-year-old. He had a little setback last year, but he's come back as good as ever. It was his first time at this distance and he was very good."
Al Riffa's performance also provided a significant boost to the form of last month's Coral-Eclipse at Sandown, where he finished a length behind the highly-touted City Of Troy. That Aidan O'Brien-trained colt now heads the Arc market, setting up a potentially mouthwatering clash between father and son in Paris this October.
While it was a day of celebration for the O'Brien camp, Charlie Appleby endured a disappointing afternoon as his representative King Of Conquest trailed home last of the seven runners.
With Al Riffa now firmly established as one of Ireland's leading Arc contenders alongside stablemate Opera Singer, Joseph O'Brien will be hoping to emulate his father's success in the race. Aidan O'Brien has claimed Arc glory twice, with Dylan Thomas (2007) and Found (2016), and the younger O'Brien will be eager to add his name to the illustrious roll of honour.
As the countdown to Longchamp continues, all eyes will be on Al Riffa's preparation, with connections likely to plot a direct route to Paris following this commanding performance on German soil.