Owen Burrows rules out Irish Champion Stakes following York disappointment.
Owen Burrows may explore international options for Alflaila following the horse's lacklustre performance in last week’s Juddmonte International at York.
After defending his title in the York Stakes earlier in the season, the Shadwell-owned five-year-old was anticipated to be a strong contender in what was hailed as the season’s most anticipated race at the Knavesmire. However, a sluggish start set the stage for a disappointing outcome, with Alflaila finishing 12th out of 13, trailing by 24 lengths behind the victorious City Of Troy.
Reflecting on the race, Burrows acknowledged, "Alflaila just had one of those days. He's been slow out of the gate before, and in a race of that calibre, you can't afford to give others a head start. Ryan (Moore) rode a flawless race on City Of Troy, and with horses not falling back, Alflaila didn’t get the chance to close in. Once Jim (Crowley) realized it wasn’t our day, he eased up on him."
With the Irish Champion Stakes at Leopardstown ruled out, Burrows is now considering other avenues, potentially outside of the UK. "He won’t be heading to Ireland; Leopardstown doesn’t suit him, so we’ll look at other possibilities."
Alyanaabi, another horse from the Shadwell-Burrows partnership, also failed to meet expectations at the Ebor Festival, finishing last in the Strensall Stakes. After a promising start to the season, including fifth-place finishes in the 2000 Guineas and the St James's Palace Stakes, Alyanaabi’s form has dipped, culminating in a disappointing performance at York.
Burrows plans to give Alyanaabi a break and thorough examination, saying, "Alyanaabi will undergo a full check-up and then head back to Shadwell for some rest. His recent performances have been below par, and something’s not right. We’ll finish his season early, get him assessed, and focus on bringing him back stronger next year."
