Alflaila (GB)

Spirit Dancer (GB) (Frankel {GB}), who claimed the G2 Bahrain International Trophy a year ago for breeder Sir Alex Ferguson, Ged Mason and Peter Done, returns to Bahrain to defend his title on Friday. Worth $1 million, the 2000-metre race has attracted a contentious field of 12 from all corners of the globe. A winner of the G3 Strensall Stakes last year prior to his Bahrain heroics defeating among others the Coolmore partners' multiple group winner Point Lonsdale (Ire) (Australia {GB}), the 7-year-old gelding went on to take the G2...

Shadwell star Alflaila (GB) (Dark Angel {Ire}) will target the G1 Juddmonte International Stakes later this month, racing manager Angus Gold confirmed on Sunday. The 5-year-old Owen Burrows trainee won his third race in four starts on the Knavesmire, his second G2 York Stakes last month. Gold said, "He's a real trooper and Owen said that so far, touch wood, he has come out of it well. "We're going to head on now to the International if all stays well before then and I see no reason to not go...

Shadwell's Alflaila (GB) (Dark Angel {Ire}--Adhwaa {GB}, by Oasis Dream {GB}) was highly tried after posting a career high in last term's G2 Sky Bet York Stakes, finishing just off the podium behind Auguste Rodin (Ire) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) 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...

Deira Mile (Ire), last seen finishing fourth in the G1 Derby at Epsom, will not run in this weekend's Irish equivalent at the Curragh, trainer Owen Burrows confirmed on Monday. The son of Camelot (GB) was beaten a total of seven and a half lengths behind City Of Troy (Justify) at Epsom, proving well suited by the step up to a mile and a half as he ran on strongly from the rear of the field to be nearest at the finish. All roads now lead to the G1 St...

Wednesday's Royal Ascot cards were finalised on Monday, with the feature G1 Prince of Wales's S. made up of 10 runners but not, as expected, White Birch (GB) (Ulysses {Ire}). The G1 Tattersalls Gold Cup winner's absence is one less obstacle for Ballydoyle's star colt of 2023, Auguste Rodin (Ire) (Deep Impact {Jpn}), with Cheveley Park Stud's Inspiral (GB) (Frankel {GB}) and Yeguada Centurion's Blue Rose Cen (Ire) (Churchill {Ire}) looking the chief threats to the Ballydoyle runner. Blue Rose Cen is joined by compatriots Horizon Dore (Fr) (Dabirsim {Fr}),...

Alflaila (GB), who was last seen finishing fifth behind Auguste Rodin (Ire) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) in the G1 Irish Champion S. at Leopardstown in September, has been given a clean bill of health by trainer Owen Burrows as he prepares to return to action following an injury-plagued four-year-old campaign. The son of Dark Angel (Ire) was restricted to just two starts in 2023, first returning from nearly 10 months off to win the G2 York S. on the Knavesmire in July and then passing the post only three and a...

The much-anticipated third encounter between Auguste Rodin (Ire) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) and King Of Steel (Wootton Bassett {GB}) will take place in Saturday's G1 Royal Bahrain Irish Champion S. at Leopardstown, as the Derby one-two featured among the nine heavyweights on Thursday. Ryan Moore is on Auguste Rodin in the 10-furlong feature of the Irish Champions Festival, with the Ballydoyle first string looking to bounce back from a below-par showing in Ascot's King George in which Amo Racing's King Of Steel was third. Auguste Rodin is in two, next door...

Shadwell's Alflaila (GB) (Dark Angel {Ire}) may be supplemented to the Sept. 9 G1 Irish Champion S., sidestepping Shadwell-owned Mostahdaf (Ire) (Frankel {GB}) in next week's GI Juddmonte International at York. Trained by Owen Burrows, Alflaila is on a four-race winning skein, taking the July 29 G2 York S. over the same course and distance as the International. "It's unlikely at this stage that we would run the two against each other, I would think," said Shadwell's racing manager Angus Gold. "God willing, Mostahdaf stays in good shape--he'll be the...

Shadwell's ultra-consistent Alflaila (GB) (Dark Angel {Ire}--Adhwaa {GB}, by Oasis Dream {GB}) had not been sighted since annexing October's G3 Darley S. at Newmarket, but was ready, willing and able to deliver a decisive burst for a career best in Saturday's G2 Sky Bet York S. on the Knavesmire. The Owen Burrows trainee, who also saluted in last term's G3 Strensall S. at this venue, employed patient tactics from flagfall and settled into a smooth rhythm with just one rival behind until turning for home. Taking closer order in the...

Shadwell's G2 Darley S. winner Alflaila (GB) (Dark Angel {Ire}) will make his long-awaited return from injury in the G2 Sky Bet York S. at York on July 24, trainer Owen Burrows revealed. The 4-year-old was sidelined late last year while training for a start in Bahrain in November. "He has had his rehab back at Shadwell and touch wood it has all gone well," Burrows said. "We have had plenty of time to prepare him and there was the listed race at Newbury on Saturday or this race, and...

Shadwell's Anmaat (Ire) (Awtaad {Ire}), winner of the G2 Prix Dollar at ParisLongchamp last out on Oct. 1, is due to make his first start of his 5-year-old campaign soon, trainer Owen Burrows confirmed on Wednesday. "He's good, he's in strong work. I've made an entry for him in the [G1] Tattersalls Gold Cup and he'll also have an entry for those two group races in France--the [G1 Prix] Ganay and the [G1] Prix d'Ispahan. One is at the end of April and one's at the end of May." The...

Owen Burrows trainee Alflaila (GB) (Dark Angel {Ire}) is pleasing his trainer in advance of a start in the £600,000 G3 Bahrain International Trophy on Friday, Nov. 18. One of 14 left in the 1 1/4-mile contest, the Shadwell homebred is riding a three-race winning streak coming into the contest, having landed a Pontefract listed race in July. He followed up with the G3 Strensall S. at York a month later, and was last seen running out a 1 1/4-length victor in the G3 Darley S. at Newmarket on Oct....