Al Riffa could be handed Melbourne Cup option - plus Royal Ascot star True Love follows up with five-length thrashing of colts

Rekindling and Twilight Payment landed the Michael John Kennedy Curragh Cup en route to glory in Melbourne for Joseph O'Brien and Al Riffa is poised to go down the same route as he relished the step up to a mile and three quarters to rout his rivals by five lengths.

It is set up to be a thrilling second-half to the season for the dual Group 1 winner with the Irish St Leger and the Melbourne Cup firmly on the agenda and his class came to the fore in the Group 2 contest when Dylan Browne McMonagle unleashed the odds-on shot approaching the furlong pole and he settled the race in a matter of strides, leaving Shackleton trailing in his wake.

"That was brilliant," said stable representative Kevin Blake. "He's got a lot of class and he was last to first in a National Stakes here. No one ever felt that he needed that trip but it made sense. He was very relaxed and Dylan said he was a very easy ride over that trip.

"I'd say it's most likely that he'll go straight to the Irish St Leger from here. There is a possibility of the Pries Von Berlin he won last year but I'd say it’s more likely he'll go straight to the Irish Leger. The Melbourne Cup is in the mind thereafter. We all know what comes with that but it's what we'd like to do, if we're allowed."

True Love wins

True Love became the first filly to land the Group 2 Gain Railway Stakes since Eva Luna in 1994 as she recorded an impressive five-length victory over stablemate Puerto Rico under Ryan Moore

The No Nay Never filly has landed two of her four starts, breaking her maiden with a brilliant performance in the Queen Mary at Ascot last month which led her to going off a warm 1-2 favourite against four rivals.

The resounding victory gave Aidan O'Brien his second win of the 6f contest in succession after Henri Matisse's victory 12 months ago and provided the second leg of a treble on the card for O'Brien after Moore steered 10-11 favourite New Zealand to victory in the opening 7f maiden, while Minnie Hauk completed an excellent day for Ballydoyle with victory in the Irish Oaks.

True Love lands the Railway Stakes under Ryan MooreCredit: Patrick McCann (racingpost.com/photos)

"Obviously she's fast, so we weren't sure she'd get six furlongs," said O'Brien. "She was a Queen Mary winner, so it was very hard for Ryan not to ride her. Obviously the Phoenix would be there for her as well as the Morny and the Cheveley Park."

True Love was cut into 16-1 (from 25-1) by Paddy Power for next year's 1,000 Guineas.

Blaze clear

Arizona Blaze secured a richly deserved Group 2 victory in the Barberstown Castle Sapphire Stakes as he produced a thunderous turn of foot under David Egan to charge two lengths clear of Mgheera.

Trained by Adrian Murray, the Sergei Prokofiev colt has been exceptionally consistent throughout his 15-race career. He landed the Group 3 Prix Sigy at Chantilly in April before producing a career-best performance at Royal Ascot last month to finish a neck second in the Commonwealth Cup.

Arizona Blaze wins the Sapphire Stakes under David EganCredit: Patrick McCann (racingpost.com/photos)

Back down to the minimum trip for the first time since finishing second in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf, he was well supported in the market into 9-4 favouritism and duly bolted clear for Amo Racing. 

Owner Kia Joorabchian said: "The ground was going a little bit softer than he'd like it because he likes really quick ground, but he just handled it very well. I think we'll aim for the Breeders' Cup. I think he'll get a Group 1 win somewhere."

Birthday bonanza

Ado McGuinness celebrated his 60th birthday in style as he saddled the winner of the €100,000 Kwiff Supercharged Betting Scurry Handicap with Go Athletico, who flew home under Shane Foley to deny Fort Vega by half a length at odds of 20-1.

The seven-year-old's last win came in the Group 3 Renaissance Stakes over course and distance in September 2023 and he has been largely out of form this year, but he bounced back in emphatic style and now has a trip to Galway on the agenda.

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