Al Riffa, the horse intended for Melbourne Cup glory, will have the opportunity to definitively prove his elite stayer credentials on the third day of the Royal Ascot carnival.
The six-year-old gelding is set to contest the week’s main event, the Group 1 Gold Cup over 4014 metres, with the race scheduled for 1:15 am AEST on Friday.
Jamie Lovett of Australian Bloodstock, which acquired Al Riffa just before last year’s Spring Carnival, acknowledged that there is a question mark over the son of Wootton Bassett’s ability to handle the extreme distance of the Gold Cup, suggesting 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 clearly demonstrated in his most recent start, the Group 1 Prix Vicomtesse Vigier (3100m) at Longchamp on May 21, where he finished strongly, beaten by a narrow margin after being held up in the straight.
Al Riffa has attracted considerable support in the Gold Cup betting since the field was declared earlier this week, 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 at $4.
Al Riffa competed 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 rather than the Hardwicke Stakes might open the door for Al Riffa’s return to Flemington. He finished seventh in last year’s Melbourne Cup, beaten just over nine lengths under 59kg.
His last victory was in the Group 1 Irish St Leger (2816m) before last year’s Melbourne Cup, and while Lovett indicated a return was unlikely, it hasn’t been ruled out.
“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.”
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