Irish Two Thousand Guineas (G1) favorite Al Riffa will miss the Curragh Classic May 27 after a “little hold up”, trainer Joseph O’Brien revealed May 22.
The 3-year-old was set to make his eagerly awaited seasonal debut after an outstanding juvenile season, culminating in a high-class performance in the Vincent O’Brien National Stakes (G1) in which he stormed to victory from subsequent group 1 winner Proud And Regal .
O’Brien said: “Al Riffa won’t run this weekend, he had a little hold-up. We won’t take the chance on his first run of the year. We’ll wait a bit longer. He just had a small setback in training, so this weekend will come a bit soon. We’ll target races later in the summer all going well.”
The son of Wootton Bassett impressed when landing a Curragh maiden last season, which encouraged connections to supplement him for the National Stakes and it proved a shrewd move as he landed group 1 honors in emphatic style. The Irish Two Thousand Guineas, for which he had been available at 5-2, was earmarked as his potential starting point from early on in this campaign, but connections will be hoping the promising colt can pick up where he left off as a 2-year-old later in the season.
Stablemate filly Above the Curve is among the entries for the Tattersalls Gold Cup (G1) but also has the option of the Prix Corrida (G2) at Saint-Cloud May 28, while Heritage Stakes winner Buckaroo could also be set to travel to France for the Prix d’Ispahan (G1) at Longchamp May 29.
Above the Curve training at Keeneland ahead of the 2022 Breeders’ Cup
Above the Curve made her reappearance in the Mooresbridge Stakes (G2) at the Curragh this month, finishing last of seven but only beaten five and a quarter lengths and connections will be hoping she can rediscover the form which brought victories in the Prix Saint-Alary (G1) and Blandford Stakes (G2).
O’Brien also has plenty of entries in the Irish One Thousand Guineas May 28, spearheaded by the Blue Wind Stakes one-two Caroline Street and Lumiere Rock and a decision on their participation will be made closer to the time.
O’Brien said: “Buckaroo is probably going to go for the Prix d’Ispahan in France. Above the Curve could run in the Tattersalls Gold Cup or she may run in a group 2 in France. I think she will come on plenty for the run at the Curragh. I’m not sure what we’ll run in the One Thousand Guineas just yet, we will leave a few in and decide later in the week.”
