Arc on the Agenda for Al Riffa at Longchamp

As we edge closer to the Autumn months, one race looms large on the European racing horizon, casting a shadow over the other Group 1 contests. Sunday, the 6th of October, is the date and Longchamp, Paris, is the destination for the 2024 edition of the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe.

Offering over £4m in total prize money, “the Arc” is widely recognised as the 1m4f turf world championship and invariably attracts a suitably cosmopolitan field. Germany, France, Britain, Italy, Ireland, and, of course, France have all claimed the famous trophy over the years. Italy aside, all look set to be strongly represented in 2024.

O’Brien’s On Course for Longchamp

Five of the seven previous Irish winners were trained by an O’Brien. The original master of Ballydoyle, Vincent O’Brien, saddled Ballymoss to victory in 1958 and Alleged to back-to-back successes in 1977 and 1978. 29 years later, Aidan O’Brien (no relation) bagged the race for the first time with Dylan Thomas before saddling an unprecedented 1-2-3 headed by Found in 2016.

Aidan has drawn a blank since that 2016 success but holds no fewer than 12 entries at this stage. Needless to say, not all of those will run, with the brilliant City Of Troy being the most notable challenger who seems likely to head elsewhere. In his absence, the filly Opera Singer may represent Aidan’s best chance, having landed the Prix Marcel Boussac in grand style at this meeting 12 months ago.

However, even if Aidan fails in his Longchamp quest, a recent market move suggests it may still be a trainer going by the name of O’Brien who raises the trophy aloft – namely, Aidan’s son, Joseph O’Brien.

Al Riffa Up to The Challenge

Unlike his father, Joseph has just one horse entered into the 2024 Arc, and he goes by the name of Al Riffa. Long held in high regard by his trainer, Al Riffa made an electric start to life at the track and rounded out his juvenile campaign with an impressive success in the Group 1 National Stakes at the Curragh.

That effort placed him towards the head of the markets for the 2023 Classics, only for injury to strike. Returning to the track in July 2023, he failed to get his head in front but got closer than most to the brilliant Arc winner Ace Impact when second in the Prix Guillaume d’Ornano.

Fast forward to 2024, and the son of Wootton Basset flew largely under the radar, aside from being used to criticise City Of Troy’s win in the Coral-Eclipse – many claiming City Of Troy’s performance couldn’t have been that good if Al Riffa finished so close to him in second.

Few doubts remain about City Of Troy following his devastating display in the Juddmonte International at York. Before that, Al Riffa had done his bit to silence the detractors. Sent to Germany for the Group 1 Grosser Preis von Berlin, he handled his first crack at 1m4f with aplomb when cruising to a five-length victory.

No doubt the world’s premier 1m4f contest represents a significant step up from that event at Hoppegarten, but the form of the race shouldn’t be dismissed. Danedream came home in front in the August event en route to her 2011 Arc success; Torquator Tasso won it in 2020 before winning the Arc in 2021, and 2022 Paris heroine Alpinista counted a win in the 2021 Grosser Preis Von Berlin on her CV.

Joseph No Stranger to International Success

Having won Group/Grade 1 contests in five countries as a rider, Joseph O’Brien has already surpassed that tally as a trainer – picking up top-level victories in Britain, Ireland, France, Australia, Germany, and the USA. Ireland’s leading race of the Irish Derby is ticked off the list, as is the Australian showpiece of the Melbourne Cup. Could the jewel in the French racing crown be next?