Big targets ahead for Al Riffa after easy Curragh Cup win Racing on Irish soil for the first time in just over two years and upped in trip to a mile and six-furlongs, the globetrotting Al Riffa trounced his rivals in the Michael John Kennedy Curragh Cup. Competing in the US, UK, France, Germany and Saudi Arabia last year, the Joseph O'Brien-trained five-year-old was last seen finishing second in the Hardwicke Stakes at Royal Ascot. Sent off a 4/5 favourite this afternoon, the Wootton Bassett entire raced mainly in fifth under Dylan Browne McMonagle, taking closer order on the outer from early in the straight. Pushed along to lead with a furlong and a half to go, he soon edged right towards the rail, powering clear to win by five-lengths in the colours of the Al Riffa Syndicate. Aidan O'Brien's Shackleton (3/1) filled the runner-up spot under Ryan Moore, while the front-running Drawn To Dream was half-a-length away in third. "That was brilliant, he's a horse with a lot of class and he was last to first in a National Stakes here in fairness to him," Kevin Blake, representing O'Brien, commented. "No-one ever felt that he needed that trip but it made sense. "He was very relaxed and Dylan said he was a very easy ride over that trip. "He quickened up and you saw what he did, it was really good. "I'd say it’s most likely that he'll go straight to the Irish Leger from here. There is a possibility of the Group 1 that he won in Berlin last year but I'd say it’s more likely he'll go straight there. "The Melbourne Cup is in the minds thereafter. We all know what comes with that but that would be what we'd like to do, if we're allowed. "We always want to go down there but it's not easy to get there. "If all goes smooth here we'll try and put him forward and see if we can get through the hoops. I don't see any reason we he can't." STEWARDS REPORT Prior to the meeting, the Raceday Stewards approved a request from the Clerk of the Course to amend the distance of this race to 1m 6f and 4yds, due to operational reasons. Additional reporting by Gary Carson
