JOSEPH O’Brien is looking towards 2025 with his stable’s two Group 1 winners from this season.
The Prix Jean-Luc Lagardère at ParisLongchamp or Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf at Del Mar had been mentioned as possible options for Scorthy Champ, after winning the Goffs Vincent O’Brien National Stakes at last month’s Irish Champions Festival.
However, it appears priority is instead being given to a tilt at classic glory next season, and a similar approach is being taken with Grosser Preis von Berlin winner Al Riffa. The four-year-old by Wootton Bassett finished 11th in the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe when last seen.
“All being well, Scorthy Champ will be trained for the 2000 Guineas at Newmarket,” O’Brien told The Irish Field.
“As for Al Riffa, we’ll have a look at some targets in the Middle East for him in the new year. Dubai will be one of his targets.”
Scorthy Champ is priced between 12/1 and 25/1 for the opening classic of the 2025 season in Britain, out to become the second classic winner trained by O’Brien in the UK, after Galileo Chrome’s 2020 St Leger success.
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