European stayer eyes Lexus Melbourne Cup

But Al Riffa will not remain in Australia post the Lexus Melbourne Cup and will chase lucrative prize money targets on the world stage. 

Al Riffa has been purchased by Australian Bloodstock with the express view of winning this year's Lexus Melbourne Cup after which he will travel to Hong Kong for the International meeting in December and to the Dubai World Cup meeting in March. 

Jamie Lovett of Australian Bloodstock said Al Riffa would remain in the care of O'Brien who has previously won the Melbourne Cup with Rekindling in 2017 and Twilight Payment in 2020. 

Lovett said Al Riffa would run in the Group 1 Irish St Leger (2816m) at the Curragh on September 14 and form part of the second shipment of horses into Melbourne for the Spring Carnival. 

Al Riffa attracted the attention of Australian Bloodstock after his victory in the Group 2 Curragh Cup (2816m) on July 19. 

"He's the obvious horse, for the want of a better term," Lovett told SEN. 

"We weren't the only ones that would have identified him and like a lot of these horses, it's a process. 

"He's been a horse with a good profile and after his last win, his first time over a mile-and-a-half, he had a flashing light, and the two miles should be no problem for him. 

"Talking to Joseph O'Brien, he will have one more run in the traditional path in the Irish St Leger on the weekend of September 14 and with the Ballydoyle arrangement he can quarantine in Ireland." 

Lovett said the new ownership group of Al Riffa is worldwide, adding they not only wanted a horse to run in the Lexus Melbourne Cup, but to win the race.  

"The majority of the horse is actually owned by some expats in Europe and Dubai," Lovett said. 

"It's good knowing you can go in boots and all knowing you have that support, and some Australian-based owners that have come into the horse as well. 

"From our point of view, it gives the owners the opportunity to travel abroad with him. There is the opportunity to go onto Hong Kong and then hopefully onto the Dubai World Cup meeting. 

"We'll make arrangements for him to stay in Melbourne post the Melbourne Cup Carnival and then make his way up to Hong Kong in December."