Horse racing news: Joseph O’Brien seeks success with Al Riffa in LONGINES Hong Kong Vase

Joseph O’Brien regards his HK$26 million (approx. £2.5m) G1 LONGINES Hong Kong Vase (1m4f/2400m) contender Al Riffa as the horse who can help further his ambition to become a regular face at the major race meetings around the world in the coming years.

Al Riffa, a strapping five-year-old by Wootton Bassett, has already given a glimpse of that potential with a second to Godolphin’s globetrotter Rebel’s Romance at Royal Ascot in June and a much-debated seventh to Half Yours in the 2025 G1 Melbourne Cup.

Al Riffa ready for international campaign after improvement

O’Brien believes his 2025 G1 Irish St Leger Stakes winner is now ready for a serious international campaign: “He’s a big powerful horse. His form has been really consistent over the past few seasons at a very high level, and when being shipped around the world, he has taken the travel in his stride.

“He’s had a busy season so far and we’re looking forward to him running in Hong Kong. I think he’s probably the ideal type for the Vase.

“His second behind Rebel’s Romance [in the G2 Hardwicke Stakes] was over the same distance on fast ground, conditions not too dissimilar to what he will get at Sha Tin.”

Al Riffa displayed some excellent form in each of his first three seasons, including when winning the G1 Vincent O’Brien National Stakes as a juvenile and then the G1 Grosser Preis von Berlin as a four-year-old, but this year he has improved further since stepping up in trip.

“He had some really high-class pieces of form in there,” O’Brien said.

“And this year, at five, we’ve gradually eased him in, stepping him up in trip, and he’s gone to a new level again. He’s also proven versatile when it comes to track conditions [going].

“At Royal Ascot, he had a rating of 117 on the day on fast ground, and when he won the Irish St Leger, it was on the soft side and he got 120. The ground is not a problem for him.”

Familiar face awaits Al Riffa in Hong Kong

Al Riffa was ridden by Mark Zahra in the Melbourne Cup last month.

Drawn wide in 19 (of 24 runners) and shouldering top weight of 59kg (130lb), he was dropped to the rear of the field and had plenty of ground to make up on the home turn.

He finished seventh, nine-and-a-quarter lengths behind the winner Half Yours, with the ride sparking various opinions.

O’Brien explained: “We were satisfied with his run in Melbourne, and now we are looking forward to Hong Kong. After that, we could also look at the Dubai World Cup next year.”

Dylan Browne McMonagle, who has ridden Al Riffa in all five of his wins (including three Group 1s), will be back in the saddle in the LONGINES Hong Kong Vase.

This year, O’Brien will also saddle Galen in the HK$40 million (approx. £3.9m) G1 LONGINES Hong Kong Cup (1m/2f2000m), in which he lines up against Romantic Warrior.

The four-year-old ran a career-best when second to Royal Champion in the G2 Bahrain International Trophy last month.

READ MORE: Khaadem bidding to become oldest LONGINES Hong Kong Sprint winner

Graffard’s Goliath set for Hong Kong Vase task

After a sensational 2025 which has included wins in the G1 Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe, G1 King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes, G1 Champion Stakes, G1 Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf, and G1 Japan Cup among others, Francis Henri-Graffard is targeting more top-level honours in Hong Kong.

Graffard sends two of his stable’s major players to Sha Tin.

G1 LONGINES Hong Kong Vase challenger Goliath makes a second trip this year after finishing ninth in the G1 FWD QEII Cup, while Quisisana will be making her first long-distance voyage for the G1 LONGINES Hong Kong Cup (1m2f/2000m).

“I’m very happy with them both; they worked well at Chantilly racecourse on Wednesday, and they seem in top shape,” Graffard said.

Goliath’s aptitude for taking out one of the four jewels on LONGINES HKIR this Sunday (14 December) is advertised by top-level victories in the 2024 G1 King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes and this year in Germany’s premier all-aged race, G1 Grosser Preis von Baden.

“Through the season, I tried to rebuild his confidence and his physical ability. He was really well for America and he travelled really well, so that was a good sign that a long journey isn’t a problem anymore,” Graffard said.

With a current official rating of 120, Goliath is poised to play a leading role in the LONGINES Hong Kong Vase – he is level with Arc third Sosie and last year’s winner Giavellotto – while a repeat of his King George level of performance makes him the equal of Los Angeles on 123.

Graffard recognises inconsistency has been the main issue with Goliath over the last two seasons, adding: “It’s a strong race but with quite an open feel to it. As we know with Goliath, everything needs to go his way for him to give his best.”

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