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| Sumita Pawar |
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Alflaila is set to make his long-awaited comeback from injury at York in the Gr.2 York Stakes, which will take place on the following Saturday.
Alflaila, owned by Shadwell, had a successful 3YO season, winning four out of six starts before getting injured before a race in Bahrain in November.
Alflaila's Quest For Glory
Trainer Owen Burrows believes that Alflaila has had enough time to recover and thinks that running in the York Stakes, where he previously won the Strensall Stakes in August, will help him improve.
Despite not racing since defeating Ottoman Fleet in the Darley Stakes at Newmarket in October, Alflaila is entered in the Juddmonte International. The connections are interested in seeing how he handles the 10 furlongs distance for the first time in his career, as a preparation for a potential run in the top-level contest at York on August 23.
Burrows said, “He will run in the Group Two at York on Saturday week. He was injured in Bahrain a few days before he was due to run.
“He has had his rehab back at Shadwell and touch wood it has all gone well.
“We have had plenty of time to prepare him and there was the Listed race at Newbury on Saturday or this race, and we’d have had a penalty in the Listed race, so we thought we’d have a punt and see how he fared in the Group Two.
“He won the Strensall at York, so he is a track winner and it would be nice to get him back on the track.”
Hukum, who triumphed in the Brigadier Gerard Stakes at Sandown after a lengthy injury break, will be competing in the King George VI And Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Ascot on the same day.
Unfortunately, Anmaat, the winner of the Prix d'Ispahan, will not be participating in the Eclipse due to a foot issue, which has resulted in him being sidelined.
“Losing good horses (through injury) is what I think they call ‘character-building’,” quipped Burrows. “With Anmaat now likely sidelined for the rest of the season, I think I’ve done enough character-building for now.
“Hukum is in good form, though. It will be a big weekend for us, that’s for sure.”
Shadwell has chosen not to add Al Asifah to the Juddmonte Irish Oaks at the Curragh this Saturday, as there are currently no immediate plans for her. The 3YO filly, sired by Frankel and trained by John and Thady Gosden, had a dominant victory in a Listed race at Goodwood in June. However, she disappointed with a sixth-place finish in the Ribblesdale Stakes at Royal Ascot just 11 days later.
Angus Gold, racing manager to Shadwell, said, “We have left her alone since Ascot. We will just give her a little bit of time and will bring her back gently later in the season.”