Back-To-Back G2 SkyBet York Stakes Success For Alflaila
Shadwell’s Alflaila posted a career high in last term’s G2 Sky Bet York Stakes and also finished just off the podium behind Auguste Rodin in September’s G1 Irish Champion Stakes and last month’s G1 Prince of Wales’s Stakes on seasonal return, and secured back-to-back renewals in a tactical affair on the Knavesmire.
The Owen Burrows trainee employed patient tactics and raced under a firm hold, behind all three opponents, through the initial fractions as King’s Gambit led at a crawl. Easing into third at the top of the straight, the 9-4 joint-favourite made continued headway under pressure and was driven out inside the final quarter-mile to deny the long-time leader by a half-length nearing the line. The 10 1/4-furlong heat became a four-furlong sprint, with fellow 9-4 joint favourite Passenger unable to strike a telling blow and finishing 3/4-of-a-length back in third, a half-length in front of Royal Rhyme.
“He’s an absolute star and he’d be better off with a faster pace, but everything that ran in that race would have been,” said Burrows. “Two furlongs down I thought that he was going to come and win and a furlong down I thought maybe second, but he just kicked in. He’s so game and such an honest horse. The manoeuvre [taking closer order] on the bend was probably the difference between winning and losing. If they’d have kicked where he was sat [at the back] I don’t think he’d have got there and that was a great move from Jim [Crowley].” Looking ahead, the trainer added, “I’ll have to have a chat with Sheikha Hissa [about the G1 Juddmonte International], but he obviously does love it here. It’s the third time he’s won here, so it does suit him. We’ll see what everybody thinks and then make a plan.”
Alflaila, one of Dark Angel’s 62 pattern-race winners, is one of three winners from as many foals out of Listed Montrose Fillies’ S. runner-up Adhwaa. Adhwaa’s dam, Listed Cheshire Oaks winner Hammiya, also produced Listed Nereide-Rennen victrix Shaqira and is the leading performer for Listed Prix Herod winner Albacora, herself a half-sister to G3 Prix de Saint-Georges winner and G1 Poule d’Essai des Pouliches runner-up Pont-Aven.
