Currently standing at Coolmore Australia, Wootton Bassett (GB) is a stallion that can do a lot of things and quite possibly sire a Melbourne Cup winner with the Australian Bloodstock owned stallion Al Riffa now favourite for the race after scoring a dominant victory in the Group I Irish St Leger at The Curragh overnight.
Purchased by Australian Bloodstock after his last start win in the Group II Curragh Cup, the Joseph O’Brien trained Al Riffa was favoruite for the St Leger and won like a good thing should, bolting clear to win by four lengths with his regular partner Dylan Brown McMonagle in the saddle.
“I fancied Al Riffa as the conditions and trip were good and he had a lovely set-up. Things couldn't have gone better. There was plenty of speed on in the first half of the race, he relaxes well and has got a good kick when you need it. I was able to take my time and he quickened up and won well,” said Dylan Browne McMonagle.
“He feels like he could go another couple of furlongs and the world is his oyster now. He's one of my favourites and owes me nothing.”
Al Riffa won on this day three years ago as a 2YO winning the National Stakes at 7f and has the overall record five wins and six placings from 15 starts enjoying success from 1400 to 2800m – what a horse!
"The horse has been a star for us," added O'Brien.
"He had a tough race today but we'll get him fresh and hopefully the Melbourne Cup is next.
"He's a classy horse so he's going to have to carry weight as a result, but he has the right attributes. It will be a huge ask but that's what racing is all about. He's been through the first step of the protocols and that's all gone smooth so he'll enter quarantine next week before the process of travelling."
Jamie Lovett of Australian Bloodstock was in Ireland for the weekend and was interviewed after the race along with Joseph O’Brien and all roads now lead to Flemington for Al Riffa.
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 stakes-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 highlights the uncanny versatility of Wootton Bassett, who gets two year-olds, classic horses and everything in between.
He is at Coolmore Australia this spring at a fee of $385,000.
