Leading British trainer Owen Burrows and owners Shadwell Estate are thinking of supplementing the talented Alflaila into the Irish Champion Stakes instead of running two in the Group One Juddmonte International at York's Ebor meeting next week.
Winning four of his six races last term including the Listed Pomfret Stakes at Pontefract, Group Three Strensall Stakes at York and on his final start last term bringing up the hat-trick in the Group Three Darley Stakes at Newmarket.
Having not been seen since that run at October he returned this term at York in the Group Two York Stakes where he put up one of his best performances to date to see off My Prospero by 1/2 a length.
The team have now set their sights on stepping the colt up to Group One level with his record at York suggesting the Group One Juddmonte International would be his next logical step.
From absolutely nowhere!
— ITV Racing (@itvracing) July 29, 2023
Alflaila gets up to take the Sky Bet York Stakes 🥇#ITVRacing | @yorkracecourse | @Atzenijockey | @ojburrows74 pic.twitter.com/KpsGDjn6Oz
However, with Shadwell having the second favourite Mosthadaf they aren't keen to run the pair against each other and that could see Alflaila supplemented for the Group One Irish Champion Stakes at Leopardstown.
(Credit ATR) “It’s unlikely at this stage that we would run the two against each other, I would think,” Shadwell's Racing Manager Angus Gold said.
“God willing, Mostahdaf stays in good shape – he’ll be the one to represent there. Obviously, we will leave Alflaila in just in case something went wrong.
“Sheikha Hissa may decide to run the two together. But at the same time if he didn’t go there, we may look to supplement Alflaila for the Irish Champion.”