Al Riffa, acquired with the intention of winning a Melbourne Cup, has an opportunity on day three at Royal Ascot to definitively establish himself as an elite stayer.
The six-year-old gelding will tackle the gruelling 4014-metre journey in the week’s premier event, the Group 1 Gold Cup, scheduled for 1:15 am Friday AEST.
Jamie Lovett of Australian Bloodstock, the entity that purchased Al Riffa shortly before last year’s Spring Carnival, acknowledged a degree of uncertainty regarding the son of Wootton Bassett’s capability at the marathon distance of the Gold Cup, stating that the race’s tempo would be the deciding factor.
“It will depend on how the race was run, if it was a brutally run race I’m tipping no (he won’t stay), but if it was one where they hack around like they’re in training down around the back and then they zip up, he can get away with it,” he said.
Al Riffa’s acceleration was evident in his most recent outing, the Group 1 Prix Vicomtesse Vigier (3100m) at Longchamp on May 21st, where he finished strongly, beaten by less than half a length after being impeded in the home straight.
Since the field for the Gold Cup was finalised earlier this week, Al Riffa has attracted significant support in betting, with UK bookmakers offering odds as short as $6.50.
The current favourite at $3 is Scandinavia, the winner of last year’s English St Leger Stakes, while the defending champion, Trawlerman, is priced at $4.
Al Riffa participated at Royal Ascot last year, finishing second to Rebel’s Romance in the Group 2 Hardwicke Stakes (2405m), a race that was also considered for him this year.
Trainer O’Brien’s choice to target the Gold Cup instead of the Hardwicke Stakes might pave the way for a return to Flemington for Al Riffa. He finished seventh, trailing by just over nine lengths under 59kg in last year’s Melbourne Cup.
His last victory was in the Group 1 Irish St Leger (2816m) prior to last year’s Melbourne Cup, and although Lovett indicated a return to Flemington was improbable, it has not been entirely discounted.
“Unlikely but it would depend what’s in it, if he got 57.5 (kilos) you’d definitely be tempted,” Lovett said.
“I thought last year was inconclusive. He obviously carried weight, but he drew wide and got back.
“I’m not saying he couldn’t carry weight in the Melbourne Cup with the right draw and he got the right run around.”
For the latest racing news, visit Australian betting sites.