Al Riffa

Thursday, ParisLongchamp, France, post time: 19:33, PRIX AGA KHAN IV (PRIX D'ISPAHAN)-G1, €250,000, 4yo/up, 9 1/4fT Field: Daryz (Fr) (Sea The Stars {Ire}), Leffard (Fr) (Le Havre {Ire}), Sosie (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}), Divine Chrisnat (Fr) (Bow Creek {Ire}), Qilin Queen (Ire) (Pinatubo {Ire}). TDN Analysis: Daryz drops back from the Ganay in which he was so impressive as he tackles last year's winner Sosie. Both are top-class at a mile and a half and have the pace to make a mark over shorter, with Daryz possibly possessing a...

Fairy Glen (Farhh) demonstrated remarkable versatility and no small amount of class when stepping up fully seven furlongs in trip to win Saturday's $1-million G2 Dubai Gold Cup Sponsored By Al Tayer Motors for Simon and Ed Crisford. The winner of last month's G2 Balanchine over 1,800 metres of the Meydan turf, the five-year-old Fairy Glen remained an unknown quantity in this 3,200-metre contest, taking on heavyweight stayers such as Al Riffa (Wootton Bassett) and Caballo De Mar (Phoenix Of Spain), the winners of last year's G1 Irish St. Leger...

Saturday, Meydan, UAE, post time: 5.30 p.m., UAE DERBY SPONSORED BY JUMEIRAH-G2, $1,000,000, NH/SH3yo, 1900m Field: Pyromancer (Jpn) (Pyro), Wonder Dean (Jpn) (Dee Majesty {Jpn}), Six Speed (Not This Time), Go Man (Fr) (Goken {Fr}), Salloom (Authentic), Brotherly Love (GB) (Zoustar {Aus}), Devon Island (Practical Joke), Rammaas (Speightstown), Union Security (Maximum Security), Duke Of Immatin (Gun Runner), Lino Padrino (Uncle Lino), Labwah (Charlatan). TDN Analysis: Listed winner Brotherly Love is hunting for his first GI Kentucky Derby points in the UAE Derby here. Breaking 11th of 12 in the 1900-metre...

The connections of the half-dozen European raiders among a field of 11 for Sunday's HK$26-million Longines Hong Kong Vase (2400m) will have been mostly pleased with the outcome of the barrier draw, which was held in the state-of-the-art parade ring at Sha Tin Racecourse Thursday morning. Resolute Racing and Baron Philip Von Ullman's Goliath (Adlerflug) makes a second trip across to Hong Kong in the space of eight months, having finished a disappointing ninth to Tastiera (Jpn) (Satono Crown {Jpn}) at a fairly short price in the G1 FWD QE...

Tuesday, Flemington, Australia, post time: 15:00 (04:00 GMT/23:00 ET {Monday}), LEXUS MELBOURNE CUP-G1, A$10,000,000, 3yo/up, 16fT Field: Al Riffa (Fr) (Wootton Bassett {GB}), Buckaroo (GB) (Fastnet Rock {Aus}), Arapaho (Fr) (Lope De Vega {Ire}), Vauban (Fr) (Galiway {GB}), Chevalier Rose (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}), Presage Nocturne (Ire) (Wootton Bassett {GB}), Middle Earth (GB) (Roaring Lion), Meydaan (Ire) (Frankel {GB}), Absurde (Fr) (Fastnet Rock {Aus}), Flatten The Curve (Fr) (Zarak {Fr}), Land Legend (Fr) (Galileo {Ire}), Smokin' Romans (NZ) (Ghibellines {Aus}), Changingoftheguard (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), Half Yours (Aus) (St Jean {Ire}),...

A week out from the G1 Lexus Melbourne Cup, the Australian Bloodstock team is increasingly confident that it has both the right horse and the right man for the job, having put its faith in the Joseph O'Brien-trained Al Riffa (Wootton Bassett). The syndicate will be seeking a third success in 'the race that stops a nation', having previously lifted the famous trophy after the wins of Andreas Wohler's Protectionist in 2014 and the ex-French runner Gold Trip in 2022. This year the Australian Bloodstock colours will be strongly represented...

There was much consternation when only three new Flat stallions retired to stand in Britain for the 2025 season. It remains to be seen whether this was a blip, but if it becomes a trend then obviously it is cause for concern. It is easy to understand why, in an increasingly commercial sphere, breeders would either flock to the proven elite (for those with mares good enough and pockets deep enough) or to the next first-season sire on the block who may be forgiven for a year or two until...

Ryusei Sakai is savouring a second tilt at the G1 Royal Bahrain Irish Champion Stakes at Leopardstown on Saturday, with last year's third Shin Emperor (Siyouni) featuring among 12 horses standing their ground after Tuesday's confirmation stage. Japanese raider Shin Emperor, trained by Yoshito Yahagi, delighted connections in an early workout on Tuesday, with Sakai saying afterwards, "He worked this morning on the Curragh Racecourse with his partner horse and he felt very well, very comfortable. I was very happy with the gallop. He is a more mature and stronger horse...

Parchment Party (Constitution) is poised to become the first American-trained runner in the G1 Lexus Melbourne Cup at Flemington on Tuesday, November 4, with Hall of Fame jockey John Velazquez again booked to ride after partnering the 'TDN Rising Star' to a wide-margin victory in June's GII Belmont Gold Cup Stakes. The Bill Mott-trained Parchment Party was one of 120 nominations for the Melbourne Cup published on Tuesday, with his emphatic win at Saratoga earning him an automatic spot in 'the race that stops a nation'. Leigh Jordon, executive general...

Joseph O'Brien has provided an upbeat bulletin on Al Riffa (Fr) (Wootton Bassett {GB}), Apples And Bananas (Ire) (Wootton Bassett {GB}) and Trustyourinstinct (Ire) (Churchill {Ire}), all of whom are on course for targets in Saudi Arabia and Qatar respectively following a key workout at Dundalk last Friday.  Dual Group 1 scorer Al Riffa, who is set to take part in the Neom Turf Cup at the Saudi Cup meeting next month, heads the travelling squad for the trainer who has masterminded Melbourne Cup and Breeders' Cup successes. Al Riffa...

Joseph O'Brien is plotting a raid on Deauville with top performers Al Riffa (Fr) (Wootton Bassett {GB}) and Above The Curve (American Pharoah) after their respective performances at the Curragh on Irish Derby weekend.  Al Riffa, winner of the Vincent O'Brien National S. as a two-year-old, made a belated start to his campaign when second in a Group 3 while Above The Curve finished a creditable third in the Pretty Polly S. O'Brien has nominated the G2 Prix Guillaume d'Ornano at Deauville in August for the colt next.  "He got...

Al Riffa (Fr) (Wootton Bassett {GB}), winner of last year's G1 National S. and ante-post favourite for Saturday's G1 Tattersalls Irish 2000 Guineas, has been ruled out of the race with "a little setback," the Irish Field reported. While announcing that the Jassim Bin Al-Attiyah-owned colt would not make the Curragh this weekend, trainer Joseph O'Brien remains confident that the colt will make the G1 St James's Palace S. on opening day of the Royal Ascot meeting June 20. He is a 6-1 chance for that mile test ante-post with...