Al Riffa part of strong Dubai Gold Cup bid for Joseph O’Brien Irish St Leger hero Al Riffa and Saudi Arabia winner Sons And Lovers give Joseph O’Brien a strong hand in his pursuit of the Dubai Gold Cup at Meydan on Saturday. Al Riffa was an emphatic winner of the final Irish Classic of the season in 2025 before going on to finish seventh as a leading fancy for the Melbourne Cup and then fourth when dropped back in trip for the Hong Kong Vase. He returns to two miles for this weekend’s Group Two contest and one of his biggest threats could be his stablemate Sons And Lovers, who lines up after a lucrative success in the Red Sea Turf Handicap on the Saudi Cup undercard. Former trainer Mick Halford, now assistant to O’Brien, said: “We’re really happy with them, they are experienced travellers at this stage and they have settled in super. They’re eating well and everything has gone as planned. “Sons And Lovers stuck to his guns really well in Saudi, Dylan (Browne McMonagle) gave him a great ride on the day. He’s an improving horse and we’re looking forward to seeing how he copes here. “Al Riffa is a terrific horse, things didn’t go to plan really in the Melbourne Cup but I’m looking forward to seeing him here on a big, galloping track and going two miles on decent ground.” The British challenge includes Tom Clover’s recent course scorer Al Nayyir, David Menuisier’s Sunway and the George Scott-trained Caballo De Mar, who struck Group One gold in the Prix du Cadran on Arc weekend last October before disappointing in the Prix Royal-Oak. “He took us on an amazing trajectory last year and he has to start this year on a totally different playing field as a result of that. He’s been away from home a couple of times and he’s absolutely ready to go,” said Scott. “I always had this race as a great stepping stone into the European season, it’s not the be-all and end-all. But he’s got a great mind and the process will only benefit him. “I’m happy with the way he’s training, he loves to go forward in his races and we’ll see how he stacks up against horses that are very much proven at this level.” Dubai Future won this race 12 months ago for Saeed bin Suroor and returns to defend his crown having been off the track since finishing last of six in the Lonsdale Cup at York last August. “Dubai Future had a little setback, so this will be his first run of the year,” said Bin Suroor. “We took him to Meydan to work last week and I was pleased with how he went. He looks in good form, although this looks a much tougher race compared to last year. “We are hoping for a good run, providing the ground is not too soft.” Jamie Osborne won the 2014 UAE Derby with subsequent Breeders’ Cup Classic runner-up Toast Of New York and came with a nose of repeating the feat with Heart Of Honour 12 months ago. This year the Lambourn handler saddles Heart Of Honour’s half-brother Brotherly Love, who has won two of his five starts in Dubai this winter. Osborn said: “His last run showed he needed this trip – he needs this long to be at his best. “I’d say he’s thrived since the Road To Kentucky and I’d hope he is now capable of running to a higher level than he was earlier in the Carnival. “It’s hard to equate the form lines, but I think it is a better Derby than last year’s. “I always felt that this horse had a chance of being at least as good, if not better, than Heart Of Honor, and I’d be hopeful on Saturday he can take the first step of showing that.” The first Group One of the night is the Al Quoz Sprint, in which French sprinting star Lazzat takes top billing. Among the British contingent is Northern Champion, who has won twice at Meydan since the turn of the year and was impressive over the course and distance in the Dubai Trophy in early February. “The seven-furlong options weren’t obvious and after winning his first start there, we ummed and ahhed about a mile or going back to six furlongs,” said trainer Ed Walker. “Fair play to Kieran (Shoemark), he was adamant we should put him back to six, sadly he couldn’t ride him last time so we flew Oisin (Murphy) over and he did a cracking job in substitution. “Kieran is back up. He’s only had one race in stakes company and was soundly beaten, but I think the ground is going to be very important.”
