Options open for Al Riffa Al Riffa has a choice of engagements for his next outing, with Joseph O’Brien sure “the best is yet come” from his lightly-raced colt. Winner of the National Stakes last season, the son of Wootton Bassett did not make his three-year-old return until the Curragh in July, finishing second to Mashhoor in the International Stakes. He went from there to Deauville for the Prix Guillaume d’Ornano – and gave unbeaten French Derby winner and Arc favourite Ace Impact a real race in going down by just three-quarters of a length. “He’ll either go to the Irish Champion or the Prix Niel, I’d say,” said O’Brien. “He came out of his last run well. It was a great run, the winner is one of the best three-year-olds in Europe and we were right in the mix with him. “Hopefully the best is yet to come with him.” O’Brien also had news on his high-class filly Above The Curve, who has been placed in Group One company three times so far this campaign, most recently in the Prix Jean Romanet. He said: “She may go back to France for the Prix Vermeille. She’s come out of the Prix Jean Romanet well.”
