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| Staff Writer |
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Alflaila is being readied for a tilt at next Friday's Gr.2 Bahrain International Trophy, with trainer Owen Burrows optimistic about his charge's chances in the US$1million contest.
The Bahrain venture follows a spectacular autumn for the Lambourn handler, whose string has found rich form. Anmaat captured the Gr.1 Champion Stakes, while Nakheel landed the Gr.3 Park Hill Stakes and Raqiya triumphed at Del Mar during the Breeders' Cup festival.
Alflaila has not been spotted since finishing down the field in York's Gr.1 Juddmonte International, but Burrows is drawing a line through that performance. The 4YO had previously shown high-class form when finishing third to subsequent Gr.1 Irish Champion Stakes victor Auguste Rodin in the Prince of Wales's Stakes at Royal Ascot.
Previous winners of this prestigious contest include Magny Cours (2021), who went on to land the Gr.3 Prix Perth, while Lord Glitters (2020) added the Gr.1 Jebel Hatta to his resume post-victory.
"The plan is to run and he ships out on Friday night," said Burrows.
"Jim (Crowley) had a sit on him this week and was very happy with him. They can all have an off-day and that is what we are putting York down to. He missed the break and never got involved."
"I suppose because he's never had an off-day previously it caught us out a bit, but they can all have them."
Last year's intended Bahrain mission was scuppered when Alflaila sustained an injury after arriving at the venue. However, Burrows reports his stable star to be in fine fettle for this year's renewal.
"He's never been over-raced, though, and he's showing all the right signs again at home. If he can get back to the form of his Group Two win at York or even his Royal Ascot run when only three lengths behind Auguste Rodin in the Prince of Wales's, which was his first run of the year, you'd have to think he'd go close."
"The race is worth US$1million this year, it's a proper Group Two with some nice horses going for it. We wanted to run him in it last year, but he had a setback when we were already there."