Comer Group International Irish St. Leger (Group 1)

DYLAN Browne McMonagle might be on his way to a first Irish flat jockeys’ title this season, and the campaign’s highlight will surely be a maiden classic victory for the rider in the Comer Group International Irish St. Leger on Al Riffa, who himself looks on his way to Flemington as Melbourne Cup favourite.

The 22-year-old oozed confidence on Joseph O’Brien’s now triple Group 1 winner, who was snapped up by Australian Bloodstock after his previous romp in the Curragh Cup - and that course-and-distance has been won by the Owning Hill team’s two previous Melbourne Cup winners.

With 15/8 favourite Illinois disappointing and coming under pressure early, the three-year-old Amiloc (2/1) stood out as the biggest threat for Ralph Beckett. He delivered a bold bid, but had no answer to the injection of pace that Al Riffa put into the final furlong or so. The class that saw the Wootton Bassett five-year-old win the seven-furlong National Stakes on this card back on this weekend in 2022 came to the fore, as he stretched four lengths clear of Amiloc in second for a ready victory.

“He’s a super horse and none deserve it more,” said Browne McMonagle, after notching the fifth Group 1 win of his career.

“He’s been hitting the crossbar racing against some superstars in Group 1s. He deserved to get his classic, is an improving horse and will only get better with age. Stepping up to a mile and six furlongs was always going to be a big help and conditions were perfect.

“All roads lead to the Melbourne Cup now. The whole team and his new connections will be very excited with that.”

O’Brien added: “We knew the horses that were guaranteed stayers were going to try and expose the stamina of those that weren’t, and the pace was really strong. Dylan was cool and confident… It was a gruelling race, but we’ll freshen him up and hopefully get him to the Melbourne Cup.”

Al Riffa’s Flemington odds now range from 6/1 to 8/1, having been available to back at 12/1 before his Irish Champions Festival success.