Al Riffa's staying credentials to be tested in Gold Cup
The horse acquired with the singular aim of capturing a Melbourne Cup, Al Riffa, is set to have his elite staying capabilities definitively assessed on day three of Royal Ascot.
This six-year-old gelding faces a significant challenge over 4014 metres in the week's highlight event, the Group 1 Gold Cup, with an Australian time of 1:15 am on Friday.
Jamie Lovett from Australian Bloodstock, the syndicate that secured Al Riffa just before the previous year's Spring Carnival, admitted that there is some doubt concerning the son of Wootton Bassett's suitability for the absolute marathon distance of the Gold Cup, noting the race's pace as a crucial 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 turn of foot was notably on display in his last run, a Group 1 Prix Vicomtesse Vigier (3100m) at Longchamp on May 21, where he finished with a strong late surge, narrowly missing victory after being held up in the final stages.
Since the Gold Cup field was announced earlier in the week, Al Riffa has seen considerable support in the betting markets, reaching odds as low as $6.50 with bookmakers in the UK.
The current favourite, priced at $3, is Scandinavia, the victor of last year's English St Leger Stakes, while the reigning champion, Trawlerman, is listed at $4.
Last year, Al Riffa competed at Royal Ascot, finishing behind only Rebel's Romance in the Group 2 Hardwicke Stakes (2405m), a race that was also a potential target this year.
The decision by trainer O'Brien to target the Gold Cup over the Hardwicke Stakes could potentially open the door for Al Riffa's return to Flemington. Last year, he finished seventh in the Melbourne Cup, beaten just over nine lengths over 59kg.
His previous win was in the Group 1 Irish St Leger (2816m) before contesting last year's Melbourne Cup. While Lovett suggested a return to Flemington was unlikely, he did not entirely rule it 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."
Explore the online bookmakers for the latest odds.
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