Back-to-form Al Riffa one of those looking to sack City Of Troy
Joseph O’Brien runner is almost an enemy from within.
Joseph O’Brien will attempt to spoil the party when Al Riffa takes on the mighty City Of Troy in the Coral-Eclipse. Aidan O’Brien is searching for a record-extending eighth victory in the Sandown feature with his all-conquering Derby hero, but his son, who finished second in the race aboard his father’s Declaration Of War in 2013, now hopes to go one better with his first Eclipse starter as a trainer. A Group One winner at two, Al Riffa has failed to add to his juvenile success despite pushing the Arc-winning Ace Impact close at three and also shaping with promise this term. The son of Wootton Bassett was poised for a step up in trip following his most recent run at Saratoga, but has impressed connections since returning from the US, with a rethink seeing the four-year-old rerouted to this high-class 10-furlong event.“He’s in very good form since America, originally it wasn’t our intention to come here, but he’s been very well since Saratoga,” said O’Brien. “It looks like a competitive renewal of the race with a few unexposed ones in there, but we hope we can mix it with them. We will just ride our own race and get a nice set-up for our horse. “He ran really well in the Prix Ganay and even in America the last day he ran much better than the finishing position would suggest, so we are excited about the horse for the season ahead and hopefully he can keep taking forward steps.” Al Riffa’s participation has led to Kieran Shoemark picking up the spare ride aboard Roger Teal’s Dancing Gemini, replacing Dylan Browne McMonagle.
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