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Sitting last for most of the race, Jim Crowley rode him out storming home in the Strensall Stakes at York.
The pace quickens and the home stretch is in sight, got the split to find the lead in a highly skilled ride taking the win.
Five wins, three seconds from 12 starts - the most significant win to date coming in August crossing the line and getting the money in the US$85,065 Gr. 3 Sky Bet And Symphony Group Strensall Stakes defeating Finest Sound.
This run was made even greater as he lined up with a penalty and against older horses on this occasion but with the evergreen and coolheaded Crowley on board got the job done.
Impressive with Owen Burrows in the seat as his trainer he will continue to show his ability with consistent performances.
Shadwell's Star Set To Travel
With a run in the Bahrain International Trophy coming up Ten Furlongs spoke with Burrows about Alflaila’s future as well as his career.
The expectation and belief in the three-year-old are high as he commented.
“He's out of a pretty fast Shadwell mare, but there is a little bit more stamina when you get further down,” Burrows said.
“He won over six furlongs the first time up as a two-year-old, but he is pretty versatile ground-wise. He is ready for his run in Bahrain.
“That extra furlong will suit him with his race style, so there are plenty of positives to take that the Bahrain trophy should suit him.”
The £600,000 Group Three Bahrain International Trophy has attracted a total of 43 entries from nine different nations with Britain having the highest number of entries (16) followed by Ireland (6), France (5), UAE (7), Bahrain (3), Germany (3), Norway (1), Turkey (1), and Sweden (1).
A key race that with its foundation began a new chapter in the history of horse racing in Bahrain, demonstrating the country’s determination to establish itself as a premier horse racing destination while serving as an opportunity to attract the attention of the global media and market Bahrain internationally.
International Travel Plans
Alflaila guaranteed his place in Bahrain’s headline race by winning the Strensall Stakes in August and will leave the United Kingdom this week arriving in Bahrain on the 10th of November.
“He will travel by horsebox on the Eurostar through to Luxembourg and stay a night there on the way over.”
He will line up for the race eight days later.
His two prep races in the Darley and Strensall were guided by different tactics, as Burrows said this was not the initial plan.
“It wasn't by design that we were a bit further back at Newmarket than planned,” Burrows said.
“Unfortunately, he has got this little bit of a habit where he just breaks a bit slow – as he did when racing in York.
“As he showed at York when back off the leaders, it suited him as he tends to run on a little too keen.
“It certainly was not the plan to give them four or five lengths start at Newmarket but fortunately there was no panic from Jim (jockey Jim Crowley) as he knows the horse well.
“He just lets him find his rhythm and make his ground up gradually.”
Alflaila will then return to the United Kingdom following his start in Bahrain where Burrows will then assess how he looks and where he will be targeted next for the track.
“I'm quite conscious that he's been on the go for a while and probably needs a rest,” Burrows added.
“Depending on what is in Bahrain, the Jebel Hatta on Super Saturday is a possibility.
“He will probably need to improve a few pounds as he is rated 115 now.”
He holds the young colt highly and said he currently has no other horses coming out to Dubai or Saudi.
Other Stars Not In Picture
“Hukum got injured but is improving and Minzaal has retired.”
Burrows was born into racing and rode for seven seasons as a conditional jockey with forty winners from 500-plus rides.
After his stint as a jockey, he went on to become an assistant trainer for Sean Woods in Newmarket for seven months before joining Sir Michael Stoute as an assistant for twelve seasons.
This experience allowed him to learn from one of the best to ever train and saw Sir Michael have three Derby winners, an Arc De Triomphe winner, Breeders Cup winners and many other Group One winners during his time there.
It was there he met Sheikh Hamdan and when advised that the late Sheikh was looking for a private trainer – Burrows took on the opportunity.
Beginnings At Shadwell
With his training career starting in 2016 his first win would come fourteen days after his first starter jumped.
Shadwell Racing has had some of the brightest stars of the turf don the blue and white since 1980 and the partnership Burrows has with Shadwell is one that he is proud of.
Having been a notable attendant at the recent sales the Shadwell Stable picked up some new additions – a prospect of great interest to the trainer.
Ending a near two-year sales ring hiatus last month when the operation’s long-serving racing manager Angus Gold purchased a Siyouni filly out of Lah Ti Dar offered by Watership Down Stud during the opening stages of Book 1 at Tattersalls.
“Obviously they bought a lovely couple of fillies with beautiful pedigrees at book one - whether I'll be fortunate enough to train one of them, I don't know yet,” Burrows commented.
“They also bought another seven or eight at Book Two. There is a mixture of pedigrees named Mehmas, Showcasing, and Land Force - so they are interesting additions and all being well one or two of them will hopefully come to us in the next month or so.”