'Right up there with any of my days in racing if he were to win' - Joseph O'Brien eyeing ultimate prize with first Arc runner

Joseph O'Brien is hoping that by taking a leaf out of the French playbook, his leading Qatar Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe candidate Al Riffa will be arriving at Longchamp a fresh horse. 

The son of Wootton Bassett has been targeted at the Arc from the start of the season and O'Brien has deliberately only given him one start since he chased home City Of Troy in the Coral-Eclipse in early July.

That was a resounding victory in the Grosser Preis von Berlin on August 11, since when O'Brien has been able to give his first runner in the race a smooth preparation for Europe's premier all-aged middle-distance race. 

"We were very proud of that performance and he looked to really thrive for the extra distance," O'Brien told a France Galop media conference. "His pedigree always suggested that he would enjoy the extra distance but it really did look like he was better for it. 

"He pulled up well and this is a good race for the Arc and has been proven over many years that it prepares horses well for it. We think it’s a good opportunity to go from there and to the Arc as a fresh horse."

Recent winners of the Hoppergarten Group 1 have included Torquator Tasso and Alpinista, both of whom won the Arc 13 months later, while Marienbard (2002) and Danedream (2011) completed the double in the same year.

Joseph O'Brien (second left) with Al Riffa after winning the G1 Grosser Preis von BerlinCredit: Deutscher Galopp/Marc Ruhl

Asked if keeping Al Riffa fresh for the autumn had been part of a longterm strategy which began in April with an early sighter of Longchamp in the Prix Ganay, O'Brien said: "He had a busy first half of the season and that was why we went to Germany and the decision was made to freshen him up and then roll straight into the Arc.

"Obviously it is a help to have had experience of running at the track before but I guess it will be a much different test over a longer distance and with the ground a little bit softer. But it’s certainly not a disadvantage."

O'Brien added: "The Arc is undoubtedly one of the biggest races in the world and it’s special to even have a runner in the race, one that has a live chance. We’re looking forward to the experience and the raceday and it would be hugely special and right up there with any of my days in racing if he were to win."

While support has begun to come for Look De Vega after jockey Ronan Thomas enthused over his recent work, Al Riffa has been solid in the market and is quoted at prices ranging from 8-1 to 11-1.

Al Riffa, who will be an 11th ride in the race for Japanese legend Yutaka Take, was among the 18 remaining entries who all went forward after Tuesday's second forfeit stage. Any supplemented horses – including potentially Bluestocking – will emerge on Wednesday morning.

The ground at Longchamp on Tuesday remained very soft on the official French penetrometer scale, while on the GoingStick there is a combination of mostly soft with some good to soft in the straight.

The outlook remains largely dry but lower overnight temperatures towards the end of the week may slow any potential drying effect and the going is likely to remain on the easy side.

One Doyle for another on Trueshan

Trueshan and James Doyle will aim to repeat their Cadran victory of 2021Credit: Edward Whitaker

James Doyle will be back on board when Trueshan bids for a third success in Saturday's Qatar Prix du Cadran, for which seven of the remaining eight entries are trained in either Britain or Ireland.

Doyle stood in when the eight-year-old took the 2m4f race in 2021 and will do so again on Saturday, with usual rider Hollie Doyle at Newmarket to partner Nashwa in the Sun Chariot Stakes.

Trueshan also took this Group 1 last year but is set for a rematch with 20-length 2022 winner Kyprios, who missed the race 12 months ago and has beaten him in all of their previous three clashes.

"The Cadran is the plan," said trainer Alan King. "We'd obviously have preferred Kyprios not to be running on Saturday, he's an outstanding horse. But he's been there twice and he's won it both times. James Doyle will be back on him and he's won on him before."

King hopes there will be enough give in the ground at Longchamp for Trueshan, who was a length second to Sweet William in the Doncaster Cup last month.

"It looks as though the ground will be fine," the trainer said. "They were saying it was drying up a bit yesterday but I'd think it will still be on the slow side of good.

"It was a very good run at Doncaster, he ran to the same Racing Post rating as when he won the race last year and I'd think that was right. The winner is an improving five-year-old."

Qatar Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe (3.20 Longchamp, Sunday)
Paddy Power: 7-2 Sosie, 9-2 Look De Vega, 6 Shin Emperor, 13-2 Los Angeles, 10 Al Riffa, Bluestocking, Delius, 16 Auguste Rodin, Aventure, 20 Continuous, Mqse De Sevigne, 25 Fantastic Moon, Sparkling Plenty, 33 Opera Singer, Zarakem, 40 Sevennas Knight, Sunway, Survie, 50 Haya Zark, 66 Luxembourg.

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