Al Riffa gives trainer Joseph O'Brien 1000th winner

Al Riffa got favourite backers off to a winning start when justifying his short odds to land the opening John Ormonde Wexford Sand Irish EBF Maiden at the Curragh.

In doing so, the colt was giving trainer Joseph O'Brien his 1000th winner in just over six years as a trainer.

Runner-up to the well regarded Hans Andersen on his racecourse debut last month, the son of Wootton Bassett showed the benefit of that introduction to win nicely at the second time of asking.

Dylan Browne McMonagle had the Joseph O'Brien trained runner close to the pace from the outset, as he disputed the early lead with Sea Spray and Fleetwood respectively.

Sent on over two furlongs out, the winner quickly went a couple of lengths clear and merely had to be pushed out to hold the late challenge of Salt Lake City

Brendan Powell, “Dylan said he jumped off smarter today and was up there. He’s so big and still immature but he’s come on bundles for his first run.

“The future is bright with him and he could be anything. He’ll stay well.

“Once he started niggling he felt he had to kick when he did. He said he kept quickening from two out all the way to line. Even a stronger gallop would have suited him.

“He seems to go on this quick ground for a big horse. Dylan said he’d be better with a little cut in it.

“They have mentioned National Stakes and you would have to talk about that with him. For the size of him I think he’s going to be a cracking three-year-old.”

With regard to Joseph O'Brien reaching the 1000 winner milestone, Powell added; “It’s phenomenal what he has done at his age. Joseph is in Saratoga with a runner tonight and a couple tomorrow.”

Additional reporting by Alan Magee