Joseph O’Brien is confident that Al Riffa can take another major step on the international stage when he lines up for the HK$26 million G1 LONGINES Hong Kong Vase (2400m) at Sha Tin on Sunday, 14 December 2025. The Irish trainer views the imposing five-year-old as a central figure in his long-term ambition to become a consistent presence at the world’s premier racing festivals.
Al Riffa has already demonstrated top-class form this season, most notably when finishing second to Godolphin’s globetrotter Rebel’s Romance in the G2 Hardwicke Stakes at Royal Ascot. He later ran seventh in the 2025 G1 Melbourne Cup (3200m) behind Half Yours, a performance that drew differing interpretations but satisfied his trainer given the wide draw and top weight.
“He’s a big, powerful horse and very straightforward to travel,” O’Brien said ahead of his Hong Kong test. “His form has been very consistent for several seasons at a high level, and he’s handled being shipped around the world with real professionalism. I think he’s probably the ideal type for the Vase. His second behind Rebel’s Romance came over the same distance on fast ground, conditions not too dissimilar to what he’ll face at Sha Tin.”
A Career Marked by Early Promise and Interrupted Plans
Al Riffa first emerged as a horse of real substance as a two-year-old, winning the G1 Vincent O’Brien National Stakes (1400m) at the Curragh. As a three-year-old, he chased home eventual Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe winner Ace Impact in the G2 Prix Guillaume D’Ornano at Deauville in just his fifth career start.
That season, however, was hampered by ill-timed setbacks. He missed the Irish 2000 Guineas due to a dirty scope and was then ruled out of the Irish Champion Stakes after another minor issue.
“He just got unlucky,” O’Brien explained. “He missed a couple of key stages of that year, and after that there wasn’t much suitable left for him. We didn’t want to travel him at that point.”
Maturing Into a World-Class Performer
His four-year-old campaign marked a significant turning point. He secured a Group 1 win in the Grosser Preis von Berlin (2400m) and later finished runner-up to City Of Troy in the G1 Eclipse Stakes (2000m), a performance that reinforced his standing among Europe’s leading middle-distance horses.
“This year at five, we’ve gradually stepped him up in trip and he’s gone to a new level again,” O’Brien said. “He’s proven versatile regarding ground conditions too. At Royal Ascot he ran to 117 on fast ground, and when he won the Irish St Leger on softer going he earned a rating of 120. The ground is not a problem for him.”
Melbourne Cup Provided Valuable Insights
In last month’s Melbourne Cup, Al Riffa was assigned the top weight of 59kg (130lb) and jumped from barrier 19 of 24. Forced to settle at the rear, he faced a considerable task but still finished a respectable seventh behind Half Yours.
“We were satisfied with his run in Melbourne,” O’Brien said. “Now we’re looking forward to Hong Kong, and afterwards the Dubai World Cup could also be an option next year.”
Regular partner Dylan Browne McMonagle, who has ridden Al Riffa in all five of his career victories—including three Group 1s—will take the ride in the Hong Kong Vase.
A Trainer Shaping a Global Identity
O’Brien’s own trajectory remains one of the most compelling stories in modern racing. A dual Irish champion jockey and two-time Derby-winning rider, he retired just before his 23rd birthday and quickly transitioned into elite-level training. By 28, he had already trained two Melbourne Cup winners, a Cox Plate champion, and an Irish Derby hero.
His only previous runner at the LONGINES Hong Kong International Races, Latrobe, finished 11th in the 2018 Vase. This year, O’Brien returns with two representatives—Al Riffa in the Vase and Galen in the HK$40 million G1 LONGINES Hong Kong Cup (2000m), following the latter’s strong second in the G2 Bahrain International Trophy.
“We’re always keen to race internationally,” he said. “We’ll go wherever we can be competitive. We’ve been aggressive in our campaigning and that’s something we’ll continue to focus on in the coming years.”
With Al Riffa now primed for another major challenge, O’Brien heads into the 2025 Hong Kong International Races with confidence—hoping his rising star can deliver a landmark result on one of world racing’s biggest stages.
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