McMonagle delight as Al Riffa claims Irish Leger
Irish Champions Festival concludes at the Curragh
Sunday, 14 September 2025
Al Riffa was a brilliant win of the Comer Group Irish St Leger at the Curragh
"I'm delighted to get it and for the horse. He was coming in here the fancied one for the weekend in my eyes. - Dylan Browne McMonagle
A first Classic victory is always one to be remembered and for Dylan Browne McMonagle, it couldn't have gone any better.
Astride Joseph O'Brien's Al Riffa, horse and jockey were a class apart as they soared to victory in the Comer Group International Irish St. Leger at the Curragh.
The third Group 1 for Al Riffa, and the first Classic for both, it added another notch onto the partnership between the two as they kicked on to success, sprinting clear of Amiloc to end the three-year-old's unbeaten run.
Al Riffa had already helped Browne McMonagle to his first Group 1 winner in the National Stakes back in 2022, and they were once more in powerful form this time out.
"The conditions were good, and the trip was good and things couldn't have gone any better. "He's got a good kick in him, so I was lucky enough to be able to just take my time, and he quickened up when needed and won well.
The world is his oyster."
David Egan shoved off any external pressure and went with his gut to help Arizona Blaze to a first and well overdue Group 1 victory.
The jockey had the choice of racing Arizona Blaze or Bucanero Fuerte and ultimately made a late but correct decision to soar to victory in the Bar One Racing Flying Five Stakes for Adrian Murray and Amo Racing.
With the two going head-to-head in the final straight, Egan held firm on his gelding and sat just behind Bucanero before surging forward down the middle.
And after several near misses at Group One level, it marked a notable first win.
"A lot of people had their opinions but at the end of the day, I had to go with my gut feeling," said Egan. "I was happy when the rain came and everything was a bit slower for this lad because everything just happened a bit too quick for him last time.
"But this whole team can really get a horse to bounce back in a short time. If anyone deserved a Group 1 it was him, he nearly won the Commonwealth Cup and I'm delighted for him today.
"It's very gracious and humbling. On to the next one."
There was a stunning victory for Ronan Whelan and Aidan O'Brien as Precise stormed to victory in the Moyglare Stud Stakes.
It marked O'Brien's 11th Group 1, but the trainer himself admitted that it was a slight shock victory, with the horse quickly improving after winning her maiden Group 1 in the Prestige Stakes at Goodwood last month.
"Ronan gave her a beautiful ride so I'm delighted," he said. "There is a strong headwind out there but she's growing and maturing all the time. You never know where she's at but she's a lovely filly."
Elsewhere, an ecstatic Eve Johnson Houghton expressed her relief after Zavateri survived a stewards' inquiry to win the Goffs Vincent O'Brien National Stakes.
Jockey Charles Bishop and Zavateri were held up towards the rear but kept on and prevailed over the line to edge out Gstaad and strike gold at Grade One level for the first time.
And after a nervous wait to determine the placing, Johnson Houghton could not contain her excitement.
"The longer is goes on, the more you worry, you can't help it," she said. "It's unbelievable. I only come over to Ireland when we can trouble everyone, so this is great."
Astride Joseph O'Brien's Al Riffa, horse and jockey were a class apart as they soared to victory in the Comer Group International Irish St. Leger at the Curragh.
The third Group 1 for Al Riffa, and the first Classic for both, it added another notch onto the partnership between the two as they kicked on to success, sprinting clear of Amiloc to end the three-year-old's unbeaten run.
Al Riffa had already helped Browne McMonagle to his first Group 1 winner in the National Stakes back in 2022, and they were once more in powerful form this time out.
"I'm delighted to get it and for the horse," said Browne McMonagle. "He was coming in here the fancied one for the weekend in my eyes.Definitive victory 👊
— Horse Racing Ireland (@HRIRacing) September 14, 2025
Al Riffa takes the Irish St Leger at the Curragh 🤩#IrishChampionsFestivalpic.twitter.com/P8UHwkRtgh
"The conditions were good, and the trip was good and things couldn't have gone any better. "He's got a good kick in him, so I was lucky enough to be able to just take my time, and he quickened up when needed and won well.
The world is his oyster."
David Egan shoved off any external pressure and went with his gut to help Arizona Blaze to a first and well overdue Group 1 victory.
The jockey had the choice of racing Arizona Blaze or Bucanero Fuerte and ultimately made a late but correct decision to soar to victory in the Bar One Racing Flying Five Stakes for Adrian Murray and Amo Racing.
With the two going head-to-head in the final straight, Egan held firm on his gelding and sat just behind Bucanero before surging forward down the middle.
And after several near misses at Group One level, it marked a notable first win.
"A lot of people had their opinions but at the end of the day, I had to go with my gut feeling," said Egan. "I was happy when the rain came and everything was a bit slower for this lad because everything just happened a bit too quick for him last time.
"But this whole team can really get a horse to bounce back in a short time. If anyone deserved a Group 1 it was him, he nearly won the Commonwealth Cup and I'm delighted for him today.
"It's very gracious and humbling. On to the next one."
There was a stunning victory for Ronan Whelan and Aidan O'Brien as Precise stormed to victory in the Moyglare Stud Stakes.
It marked O'Brien's 11th Group 1, but the trainer himself admitted that it was a slight shock victory, with the horse quickly improving after winning her maiden Group 1 in the Prestige Stakes at Goodwood last month.
"Ronan gave her a beautiful ride so I'm delighted," he said. "There is a strong headwind out there but she's growing and maturing all the time. You never know where she's at but she's a lovely filly."
Elsewhere, an ecstatic Eve Johnson Houghton expressed her relief after Zavateri survived a stewards' inquiry to win the Goffs Vincent O'Brien National Stakes.
Jockey Charles Bishop and Zavateri were held up towards the rear but kept on and prevailed over the line to edge out Gstaad and strike gold at Grade One level for the first time.
And after a nervous wait to determine the placing, Johnson Houghton could not contain her excitement.
"The longer is goes on, the more you worry, you can't help it," she said. "It's unbelievable. I only come over to Ireland when we can trouble everyone, so this is great."