JOSEPH O’Brien is no stranger to successful Stateside raids and looks to have spied an attractive opening for Group 1 winner Al Riffa to get back on the top-level scoresheet in tonight’s Grade 1 Resorts World Casino Manhattan Stakes (10.36) at Saratoga.

Race conditions for the $1 million prize suit the 2022 Goffs Vincent O’Brien National Stakes winner nicely, as he receives a 6lb pull at the weights with several rivals as a result of not winning a group race in the last year.

A close-up fourth in the Prix Ganay on his first run of the year, Al Riffa finished closer to Ace Impact than any other horse in the Arc winner’s career when runner-up in the Group 2 Prix Guillaume d’Ornano at Deauville on his previous start in August 2023.

Having been campaigned exclusively at a mile and a quarter last season, he comes back slightly in trip to an extended nine furlongs for this assignment.

O’Brien told The Irish Field: “Al Riffa has settled in well at Saratoga. I’m very pleased with how he shipped. It was his first time flying so we were pleased with that.

“It looks a good race for him. It’s obviously competitive, and we’re running on a sharp track, but he’s trained well and the prize money is very good. We’re excited to have a shot at a Grade 1 with him. Hopefully he runs a very good race.”

Morning line oddsmakers in America make Al Riffa as a 6/1 chance, with Chad Brown’s triple Grade 1 winner Program Trading installed at 5/2 at the head of the market from Charlie Appleby’s Measured Time and Nations Pride at 7/2 and 9/2 respectively. Brown is also responsible for live contender I’m Very Busy (9/2).