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📻 IMPORTANT AUCKLAND UPDATE 📻
"As good as ever": Al Riffa's trainer confident in Melbourne Cup chance
Connor Scanlon • September 17th, 2025 5:57 pm
Irish superstar trainer Joseph O’Brien is a two-time Melbourne Cup winning trainer, clinching the Cup in 2020 with Twilight Payment and then again in 2017 with Rekindling.
O’Brien will have two runners in this year’s edition of the Melbourne Cup - Al Riffa and Goodie Two Shoes - who will both be racing to secure the Irishman’s third cup on the first Tuesday of November.
Joseph O’Brien joined SENTrack and RSN’s Giddy Up to break down his Melbourne Cup chances.
Al Riffa is the current favourite for Australia’s great race at $6 (on Sportsbet), whereas Goodie Two Shoes is an outside chance at $41.
The Cup favourite is coming off an exceptional first-up Group 1 Irish St. Leger victory (2816m) which impressed his trainer.
“Al Riffa was really good, he’s obviously a very high-class colt for the last number of seasons,” O’Briend said.
“Since he’s gone up in distance, he’s two from two. He was probably as good as ever on the weekend at Curragh.
“We are excited about the future with him.”
When asked about the decision to run Al Riffa up in distance, the Irish trainer revealed the stallion’s amazing run in the Group 2 Ascot Gold Cup (2405m) is the reason why he’s now being ran at a longer distance.
“He was able to run at such a high level at 10 and 12 furlongs, we never really needed to step out in trip. It was always something that was on the back of our minds,” O’Brien revealed.
“His dame was actually a sibling to a horse that was placed in the Ascot Gold Cup (4014m), so there is plenty of stamina in his pedigree.
“When we finished second to Rebel’s Romance in Ascot, we felt that maybe it was a good time to try him over further.
“He’s looked good both times up in distance this season.”
O’Brien compared Al Riffa to both his Melbourne Cup winners – Twilight Payment and Rekindling – admitting that the stallion may currently be in a better position then his Cup winners.
“Both of them fell a bit short at Group 1 level in their seasons here before travelling down, but this guy is a multiple Group 1 winner,” said the Irishman.
“He has good attributes that we think might translate to a race like the Melbourne Cup – he’s a stayer who has some speed and he has a good turn of foot.
“He settles very well and he’s a very straight forward horse.
“He’s won on all ground, to be honest. He’s won on fast, he’s won on slow, he’s pretty versatile.
“You would hope a track like Flemington would suit him well.”
Both Al Riffa and Goodie Two Shoes will enter quarantine next week in preparation to travel down under for Australia’s great race.
“He goes into quarantine next week and then he’ll have his two weeks here before he travels down,” O’Brien revealed.
“The plan for Goodie Two Shoes is to travel down as well (with Al Riffa).
“She’s in career best form, she is an intended runner as well.
“The plan is for her to go straight to the Cup and hope that she makes it across.”
