Alflaila wins Sky Bet York Stakes, reaction and replay

Owen Burrows' charge had been off the track since winning a Group Three at the start of October but picked up from where he had left off with a stylish success in the Group Two at York.

Held-up off a steady pace set by Irish challenger Mashhoor, Alflaila was one of the last to play his hand under Andrea Atzeni as Royal Champion, My Prospero and Checkandchallenge all made their bids for glory.

Favourite My Prospero kept grinding it out and it looked as though he had gained a hardfought victory to put a disappointing run at Royal Ascot behind him but Alflaila had other ideas, sweeping past in the closing stages to win a shade cosily.

The four-year-old won a Listed race at Pontefract and successive Group Threes to round off last season, including a verdict at York in the Strensall Stakes. A subsequent injury suffered when being readied to run in Bahrain delayed his reappearance, but he proved his talent remains very much intact.

Alflaila’s success was the first leg of a huge double on the day for Burrows and owners Shadwell, with Hukum later triumphing in the King George VI And Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Ascot.

“I’ll be honest, I only watched Alflaila on my phone as I was saddling Hukum at the time, but I’m obviously delighted,” said the trainer.

“Andrea said they went slowly early on and he did well to pick up as well he did. It was a good performance, coming off such a lay-off after an injury. It’s been a huge team effort.

“We felt he was on the upward curve last year and it was a shame what happened in Bahrain and we’re now having to start off his season at the end of July, but there’s plenty of nice races left, so hopefully he’ll be fine in the morning and we can make a bit of a plan then.

“He’s in the Juddmonte International back at York (August 23) and we’ll have a chat with Angus (Gold) and Richard (Hills) and Sheikha Hissa (of Shadwell). They obviously have the favourite for the race anyway in Mostahdaf, so we’ll enjoy today and look to the future once we know he’s all right.”

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