3 minute read
Joseph O’Brien’s Al Riffa put himself firmly in the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe picture when striking Group 1 gold in the Westminster 134th Grosser Preis von Berlin at Hoppegarten.
A winner of the Group 1 National Stakes at the Curragh as a juvenile, the son of Wootton Bassett was attempting the mile-and-a-half trip for the first time on the back of chasing home Epsom Derby hero City Of Troy in the Group 1 Coral Eclipse Stakes at Sandown.
Dylan Browne Mcmonagle always looked well-positioned in behind the front-running Tunnes and the pair struck the front with two furlongs to travel. It would be here where Al Riffa would enter unknown territory, but he quickly put the race to bed and proved the step up in trip to be no problem when striding away for an impressive five-length success.
Narrativo kept on to grab the silver medal position, but in all truth, he was no match for the Joseph O'Brien -trained four-year-old. Paddy Power reacted by cutting the winner to 14/1 (from 20s) for the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe at Longchamp in October, with O'Brien confirming that would be his intended target.
Speaking to Wettstar, O'Brien said: "It's been a wonderful day here today and Al Riffa put up a really good performance and we're really proud of him. Dylan gave the horse a fantastic ride and we've had a great day.
"He's had quite a busy season so far; he's raced in France, the UK, America and now also he's raced in Germany.
"So, I think he will have a little rest and probably then he will be prepared for the Prix de l'Arc."