While the City Of Troy may not be competing in the season’s Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe, Al Riffa, who was hot on his heels during the previous Eclipse, has firmly set his sights on Paris for the first Sunday in October. The horse, trained by Joseph O’Brien, was the winner of the 2022 National Stakes and had narrowly missed a huge upset at the Sandown event. O’Brien is patiently steering the horse towards the Longchamp event this autumn.
O’Brien stated, “The horse had a stellar performance. He’s recuperated well and we’re looking forward to his autumn campaign. We are eager to see what the rest of the season holds for him, hopefully,”. “The Arc is our intended plan. We have several strategies to reach it, but none have been cemented yet. We will observe the horse’s condition and then set our goals accordingly.”
In another development, British amateur jockey Alice Proctor was in critical condition on Sunday following a severe fall at the Cartmel track in Cumbria the previous day. The 21-year-old jockey was dismounted from her horse, Uggy Uggy Uggy, during the second flight of a women’s handicap hurdle. She had to be airlifted to Preston after on-site medical intervention.
A spokesperson from the Injured Jockeys Fund reported on Sunday, “Amateur jockey Alice Proctor fell at Cartmel Racecourse. She immediately commenced experiencing back pain and was airlifted to Royal Preston Hospital’s major trauma centre. Following scans, she was transferred to the operating theatre under the spinal team’s care. She is currently in the ICU with her kin present.”
Despite having not yet won under rules, Proctor has had successful runs and training sessions in point-to-points. Her parents, Doug and Lucy Proctor, are the breeders of the twin-Champion Hurdle victor, Honeysuckle, in 2014.
Additionally, the team connected to Swingalong, the runner-up of the July Cup, are optimistic about her future chances of landing a prestigious Group One award. She may take her next swing at a premier success in Haydock’s Sprint Cup in September.
After narrowly missing victory to Millstream at Newmarket and achieving second place behind Khadeem at the last month’s Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes at Royal Ascot, the Karl Burke-trained speedster is poised for more challenges. Philip Robinson, former Classic winner and the representative for Swingalong’s proprietors, shared his thoughts and hopes for the race mare.
“The victory, I believe, is imminent,” Robinson remarked. He conjectured that Swingalong would likely be racing next at Haydock, which he identifies as their central focus at this time.
Robinson is optimistic about Swingalong’s chances at the upcoming Haydock race. “Last year, she was in fourth place, just a length and a half away from the lead. This year, I am confident that she has improved to be at least two lengths better. Therefore, it seems to be the primary goal to send her back to Haydock with hopes of victory,” he explained.
Robinson believes Haydock’s track plays to Swingalong’s strengths. “I didn’t think the Newmarket race allowed her to perform at her ultimate capability, yet she put on an impressive performance. I was convinced she was on the cusp of victory until the final moments,” he reflected.
Robinson commended Swingalong’s determination, affirming that she gives it her all. “I am confident that she will bag a Group One victory sooner rather than later. Even if she doesn’t make it this season, I hope her owner will consent to another year of training. I am certain that a victory is on the horizon,” he concluded optimistically.