Trained by Owen Burrows, Shadwell's Alyanaabi proved himself a smart juvenile in 2023 when he won the G3 Tattersalls S. at Newmarket before going on to fill the runner-up spot behind City Of Troy (Justify) in the G1 Dewhurst S. over the same course and distance.

City Of Troy is a short-priced favourite to maintain his unbeaten record when, all being well, he lines up in the G1 Qipco 2000 Guineas back at Newmarket on Saturday, May 4, but Burrows is not shirking the rematch should Alyanaabi come through his preparation for the opening Classic of the season in good shape.

“I'm very pleased with him,” Burrows said of the talented colt. “He's done well [over the winter] and we've just started faster work with him. We might give him a run [in a Guineas trial]. If he goes anywhere he'll probably go to the Greenham at Newbury. It just sort of makes sense as it's just up the road for us and luckily he had a couple of runs at Newmarket last year, so he handles the Rowley Mile well by the look of it.

“We're a long way off and, like most people, we've not been able to do much on the grass as yet. It would be nice for it to dry out a little bit so we can get a bit of work on the grass into him, but we're happy that he might just go to Newbury and have a run before the Guineas. City Of Troy is the standout at the minute, but you can't run away from one and we'd like to think that we'll be up there with a few of the others, so we shall see.”

Burrows has a second entry for the 2000 Guineas in the shape of Deira Mile (Ire), last seen finishing fourth in the G1 Futurity Trophy S. at Doncaster in October, but the trainer considers it unlikely that the son of Camelot (GB) will take his chance at Newmarket.

“I'll be honest, I've got him in the English Derby and the French and the Irish [Derbys] and we've just put him in the Guineas in case for whatever reason he doesn't stay,” Burrows added. “I'd be amazed if he doesn't because that's all he did in the Futurity and obviously that was over a mile in heavy ground.

“The Guineas entry is just a speculative entry, but the owner was happy to cover all bases and he's going to be treated like a Derby horse, who will start over a mile and a quarter at the beginning of April and then we'd be expecting to hopefully look at a Derby trial with him after that.”

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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 one to represent [in the International]. Obviously, we will leave Alflaila in just in case something went wrong.”

“Sheikha Hissa may decide to run the two together. But at the same time if he didn't go there, we may look to supplement Alflaila for the Irish Champion.”

Shadwell has also penciled in the G1 Yorkshire Oaks for Al Husn (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}), victorious in the G1 Nassau S. at Goodwood in her latest start Aug. 3. The 4-year-old is trained by Roger Varian.

“She's never run over this trip before and nobody has ever particularly said she needs that trip,” said Gold. “She's so tough and she's such a little star of a filly that she might well stay. On pedigree, the mare [Hadaatha] I think would have stayed–she was by Sea The Stars out of a Linamix mare. And Al Husn's by Dubawi–they can do anything.

“She a very easy filly to ride and she's got a heart the same size as her. So, she might well get it and it would be fun to try it, but we're in the luxurious position of her already being a Group 1 winner now, so we'll just see how Roger and his team feel she is and whether she's ready to go again.”

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Always travelling easily under cover in mid-division with Jim Crowley content to wait with the homebred, he went forward as Auguste Rodin (Ire) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) disappeared out of view turning for home with Ryan Moore giving up the unequal struggle and easing the 9-4 favourite out of the race. It was Westover who provided the target as Rob Hornby committed approaching two out, but Hukum had that extra helping of speed and after gaining the edge a furlong out denied the rallying Juddmonte runner by a head in this 'Win and You're In' for the GI Breeders' Cup Turf in November. There was a 4 1/2-length margin back to the 3-year-old King Of Steel (Wootton Bassett {GB}) in third, with some tired horses further back in what turned into a war of attrition with the winning time the third-slowest since 1997.

“I've always believed in this horse and he's out of his brother's shadow now,” Crowley said. “That was something special. It went real smoothly and although Westover got first run on me it gave me something to aim at. He's so tough and it never felt like he was going to come off second best there.”

What a race! Hukum is the King George hero at @Ascot! pic.twitter.com/5lghUpPmOm

— At The Races (@AtTheRaces) July 29, 2023

First emerging on the scene with a win in the course-and-distance King George V H. at the Royal meeting here three years ago, Hukum was St Leger-bound after beating up the older horses in the G3 Geoffrey Freer S. but was ill-equipped for such a stamina test at that stage and could manage only fifth to close out a decent 3-year-old campaign. After his third on soft ground in the G2 Hardwicke S. the following June, he was confined to group 3 company and looked to have reached a ceiling with a second to this race's absentee Hamish (GB) (Motivator {GB}) in the G3 September S.

What that defeat actually did was create a dividing line between Hukum Part 1 with limitations and the new sleeker model which was on display at Epsom last June as he blew away Pyledriver (GB) (Harbour Watch {Ire}) by 4 1/4 lengths in the G1 Coronation Cup. Injury struck there and so the fates looked sealed, particularly while Baaeed took a sibling rivalry that had never looked a fair fight to new levels. Instead of retirement, there was in its place a concerted effort between the Burrows stable and Shadwell to give Hukum a 6-year-old campaign which would answer some lingering questions and the Brigadier Gerard did that and how.

While the heavy rain into Thursday played against Auguste Rodin and Emily Upjohn (GB) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) and probably also the fleet-footed King Of Steel most notably, it meant that Hukum had all boxes ticked in a race that was always going to boil down to small margins. For Auguste Rodin, this was a re-run of the 2000 Guineas disaster, only played out over a greater time scale as the all-or-nothing dual Derby hero proved unequivocally that he needs it fast. Point Lonsdale (Ire) (Australia {GB}) and Bolshoi Ballet (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) went as quick as they could in front, but all bar the favourite were comfortable in behind and turning for home the eventual one-two-three were those with jockeys sitting the most quiet.

Any prospect of a blanket finish diminished rapidly straightening up, with Luxembourg (Ire) (Camelot {GB}) and Pyledriver treading water and Emily Upjohn floundering as the front two drove on into daylight with King Of Steel coming to the end of his stamina reserves. Looking at Westover, who had been such a flop here 12 months ago and who ran away from Hornby's whip to lose momentum in the closing stages, the deciding factor was probably the two years of hardening and extra maturity that the Shadwell representative had in his favour. Emerging as two true King George giants, they in the process gained overdue credibility having endured their fair share of being at times under-rated and under-valued by the press.

For Owen Burrows, the outcome was a dream scenario which 12 months ago would have seemed fanciful to even the biggest romantic. “He's an absolute star, isn't he? It is a big team effort, especially from my head lad who rides him every day, John Lake, and this season for whatever reason he's shown a lot more speed.”

“I can't put into words what it means,” he added. “The guys back at Shadwell rehabilitated him after his injury at Epsom, so huge credit to them. It was the type of injury that wouldn't retire a horse, but he'd just won a group one and he was five so hats off to Sheikha Hissa for giving him a chance. This horse has been a huge part of my career. He was my first Royal Ascot winner, first group one winner and he won in Dubai when we first went out after the sad passing of Sheikh Hamdan.”

Juddmonte's Barry Mahon described connections' mixed feelings after going so close. “We're devastated but delighted,” he said. “What a horse, what a horse race. He's run a career-best in what was being touted beforehand as the middle-distance race of the year and he went down gallantly. I felt he was even battling back again at the finish. He put it all on the line and he's doing what we thought he'd do this year. Last year he was big and immature and he's mentally and physically grown up. To break the track record the last day in Saint-Cloud was a big performance and to back it up with a run like that three weeks later is unbelievable.”

Rob Hornby added, “This race deserves a spectacle like that and to have an ovation for this horse, coming second like we did, was special. It is tough to take, but I'm really proud of him. He stays very well. He rolled around twice and I pulled my stick through and corrected him. When he got into a head-to-head, he was tough all the way to the line and he was just edged out unfortunately.”

Roger Varian said of King Of Steel, “I think he ran a great race, he lost nothing in defeat and came there with a great chance. He has been beaten by two mature, good, older horses. I'm not sure he got home as well as the first two. We have always got the option of coming back to 10 furlongs, but he had some great horses in behind him, two very good ones in front of him, and it's only his fifth run so he can only improve can't he?”

“He has the scope and is a big horse,” Varian added. “I'm sure he needs a little time between races. He's had a tough race today, but he's like a teenager, still. We got beat, but it was a super race–a championship race. He turned up and really ran his race.”

Aidan O'Brien said of Auguste Rodin, “Whatever happened, the power ran out and it ran out early. That is the unusual thing. The race wasn't even started. He was calm in the paddock, we were very happy with him. There is obviously a reason and we'll find it. It is frustrating, but that's the way.”

Pedigree Notes

Hukum, who was the fifth member of his family to run in this and the second to win it as he emulated the feat of Nashwan in 1989. It was in this race in 1982 that his fifth dam Height Of Fashion (Fr) raced for Sheikh Hamdan for the first time after he had purchased her from The Queen and she was seventh after banging her head coming out of the stalls. Prior to the victory of Nashwan, her son of Northern Dancer, Unfuwain, was second to Mtoto (GB) in 1988 while her other participant Nayef went down by a head to Golan (Ire) in a finish almost identical to this in 2002. He was also here a year later, but finished seventh as the 3-1 favourite on ground similar to this.

The Listed Prix de Liancourt winner Aghareed is nothing short of a goldmine for the operation, having been the best bred from the GI Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf and GI Flower Bowl Invitational S. heroine Lahudood (GB) (Singspiel {Ire}) who like Hukum took time to gather momentum before exploding as champion grass mare in the Autumn of 2007. The fourth dam Bashayer (Mr. Prospector) is a full-sister to the Listed Oh So Sharp S. scorer Sarayir, who produced the G1 1000 Guineas and G1 Coronation S. heroine Ghanaati (Giant's Causeway) who is in turn responsible for the classy miler Mutasaabeq (GB) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}). Less than 24 hours after her 3-year-old colt Naqeeb (Ire) (Nathaniel {Ire}) managed to get beaten for the third time at Newmarket, Aghareed's story has gained an extra momentous chapter. She also has the 2-year-old colt by Night Of Thunder (Ire) named Waleefy (Ire) and a 2023 full-brother to Hukum and Baaeed to come.

Saturday, Ascot, Britain
KING GEORGE VI AND QUEEN ELIZABETH QIPCO S.-G1, £1,250,000, Ascot, 7-29, 3yo/up, 11f 211yT, 2:33.95, g/s.
1–HUKUM (IRE), 135, h, 6, by Sea The Stars (Ire)
     1st Dam: Aghareed (SW-Fr), by Kingmambo
     2nd Dam: Lahudood (GB), by Singspiel (Ire)
     3rd Dam: Rahayeb (GB), by Arazi
O/B-Shadwell Estate Company Limited (IRE); T-Owen Burrows; J-Jim Crowley. £708,875. Lifetime Record: GSW-UAE, 17-11-1-2, $1,859,692. *Full to Baaeed (GB), MG1SW-Eng, G1SW-Fr, $3,398,976. Werk Nick Rating: A+++ *Triple Plus*. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree, or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Westover (GB), 135, c, 4, Frankel (GB)–Mirabilis, by Lear Fan. O-Juddmonte; B-Juddmonte Farms Ltd (GB); T-Ralph Beckett. £268,750.
3–King Of Steel, 124, c, 3, Wootton Bassett (GB)–Eldacar (GB), by Verglas (Ire). ($200,000 Ylg '21 KEESEP). O-Amo Racing Limited; B-Bonne Chance Farm, LLC (KY); T-Roger Varian. £134,500.
Margins: HD, 4HF, 3 1/4. Odds: 6.50, 7.00, 4.50.
Also Ran: Luxembourg (Ire), Pyledriver (GB), Bolshoi Ballet (Ire), Emily Upjohn (GB), Point Lonsdale (Ire), Deauville Legend (Ire), Auguste Rodin (Ire). Scratched: Hamish (GB).

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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 straight, the 5-1 chance quickened stylishly to challenge inside the final furlong en route to a half-length verdict from the dual Group 1-placed G2 Prix Eugene Adam victor My Prospero (Ire) (Iffraaj {GB}).

“It was a very good training performance and, obviously, Owen Burrows' horses are running very well at the moment,” said rider Andrea Atzeni. “Now that I'm a freelance, I was able to commit to the ride. I have sat on him twice at home as Owen was very keen for me to get to know the horse. He hasn't run for a while, but his work was good. With the likes of My Prospero and Royal Champion running, it was a competitive race for such a small field and it was a very good race.”

Pedigree Notes

Alflaila, one of his sire's 56 pattern-race winners, is one of two winners from as many runners out of Listed Montrose Fillies' S. runner-up Adhwaa (GB) (Oasis Dream {GB}). Adhwaa's dam, Listed Cheshire Oaks winner Hammiya (Ire) (Darshaan {GB}), also produced Listed Nereide-Rennen victrix Shaqira (GB) (Redoute's Choice {Aus}) and is the leading performer for Listed Prix Herod winner Albacora (Ire) (Fairy King), herself  a half-sister to G3 Prix de Saint-Georges winner and G1 Poule d'Essai des Pouliches runner-up Pont-Aven (Ire) (Try My Best). Pont-Aven produced a quartet of black-type winners headed by dual G2 Prix du Gros-Chene victrix Sainte Marine (Ire) (Kenmare {Fr}), G2 Gimcrack S.-winning sire Josr Algarhoud (Ire) (Darshaan {GB}) and the stakes-producing Listed winners Traou Mad (Ire) (Barathea {Ire}) and Cap Coz (Ire) (Indian Ridge {Ire}). Adhwaa has also produced the hitherto unraced 3-year-old filly Kick A Rhyme (Ire) (Night Of Thunder {Ire}).

Alflaila is up in time to win a thrilling renewal of the feature Group 2 @SkyBet York Stakes, with the four-year-old defying a 294-day absence to score under @Atzenijockey for trainer @ojburrows74 pic.twitter.com/7VRCvRMmX8

— York Racecourse (@yorkracecourse) July 29, 2023

Saturday, York, Britain
SKY BET YORK S.-G2, £125,000, York, 7-29, 3yo/up, 10f 56yT, 2:10.17, gd.
1–ALFLAILA (GB), 134, c, 4, by Dark Angel (Ire)
1st Dam: Adhwaa (GB) (SP-Eng), by Oasis Dream (GB)
2nd Dam: Hammiya (Ire), by Darshaan (GB)
3rd Dam: Albacora (Ire), by Fairy King
O/B-Shadwell Estate Company Ltd (GB); T-Owen Burrows; J-Andrea Atzeni. £70,888. Lifetime Record: 13-6-3-0, $339,313. Werk Nick Rating: A+++ *Triple Plus*. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree, or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–My Prospero (Ire), 134, c, 4, Iffraaj (GB)–My Titania (Ire), by Sea The Stars (Ire). O/B-Sunderland Holding Inc (IRE); T-William Haggas. £26,875.
3–Royal Champion (Ire), 134, g, 5, Shamardal–Emirates Queen (GB), by Street Cry (Ire). O/B-Sheikh Mohammed Obaid Al Maktoum (IRE); T-Roger Varian. £13,450.
Margins: HF, 1, 1 1/4. Odds: 5.00, 1.00, 4.50.
Also Ran: Checkandchallenge (GB), Mashhoor (GB).

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The 11-2 chance raced in mid division after a stuttering start. Easing closer to the front rank once past halfway, he surged to the front in taking fashion approaching the final furlong and was ridden clear in the closing stages to easily account for User Amistoso (Fr) (Wootton Bassett {GB}) by an impressive 4 3/4 lengths. Subsequent G1 Dewhurst S. runner-up and G3 Goldene Peitsche victor Dubawi Legend (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) attained 'TDN Rising Star' status in the 2021 renewal of this contest. War Rooms becomes the second Rising Star for his sire, whose first was River Thames (Ire).

“He gave me a good feel on the way to post and they went a strong pace, I thought, on that [soft] ground,” said winning rider Jim Crowley. “He stayed very well and galloped out past the line really well. He's been doing things nicely at home and he'd have learnt plenty today. He's got a good mind on him and he'll be a lovely horse for next year. He's a rangy horse and he'll be quite smart over a mile-and-a-quarter next year.”

War Rooms, half-brother to a weanling filly by Australia (GB), is the seventh of eight live foals produced by a half-sister to G1 Dewhurst S.-winning sire Distant Music (Distant View) and G3 Lancashire Oaks third New Orchid (Quest for Fame {GB}). Descendants of the May-foaled bay's second dam Musicanti (Nijinsky II), herself a half-sister to MGISW sire Vanlandingham (Cox's Ridge), also include three-time Group 1 winner Native Trail (GB) (Oasis Dream {GB}), G1 Haydock Sprint Cup heroine African Rose (GB) (Observatory) and MGSW sire Calyx (GB) (Kingman {GB}).

3rd-Doncaster, £6,800, Nov, 7-27, 2yo, 7fT, 1:30.21, sf.
WAR ROOMS (IRE), c, 2, by Churchill (Ire)
1st Dam: Apticanti, by Aptitude
2nd Dam: Musicanti, by Nijinsky II
3rd Dam: Populi, by Star Envoy
(200,000gns Ylg '22 TATOCT) Lifetime Record: 1-1-0-0, $4,752. Click for the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
O-Brook Farm Bloodstock; B-Lynch Bages & Camas Park Stud (IRE); T-Owen Burrows; J-Jim Crowley.

Impressive on debut! Churchill colt War Rooms looks pretty smart and wins first up for @JimCrowley1978 and @ojburrows74 at @DoncasterRaces… pic.twitter.com/sIhXYdzpoI

— At The Races (@AtTheRaces) July 27, 2023

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“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 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 2.

“He won the [G3] Strensall at York, so he is a track winner and it would be nice to get him back on the track.”
Alflaila has been entered in the G1 Juddmonte International on Aug. 23.

Burrows has Group 1 winner Hukum (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) running in the G1 King George VI And Queen Elizabeth S. on the same day, while G1 Prix d'Ispahan winner Anmaat (Ire) (Awtaad {Ire}) will head to the sidelines with a foot abscess, which also ruled him out of the G1 Coral-Eclipse S. earlier this month.

“Losing good horses [through injury] is what I think they call 'character-building',” Burrows quipped. “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 decided not to supplement Al Asifah (GB) (Frankel {GB}) into Saturday's G1 Juddmonte Irish Oaks at the Curragh. The 3-year-old John and Thady Gosden trainee was a runaway winner of a Goodwood listed event in June, before finishing a sixth behind Warm Heart (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) in the G2 Ribblesdale S. at Royal Ascot on June 22.

“We have left her alone since Ascot,” Angus Gold, racing manager to Shadwell, said. “We will just give her a little bit of time and will bring her back gently later in the season.

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“Hukum will run if and when we get some rain,” confirmed Shadwell's racing manager Angus Gold. “It was a touch and go situation Saturday. We were longing to run him, but [trainer] Owen [Burrows] just felt in the end that, while we could run him and he could win it, he might come back a bit sore after it and we'd all look silly.”

He continued, “We kept him in training and spent a lot of time getting him right again after his injury last year and he just felt it was too big a risk. It is frustrating but sensible.

“Very much the idea is the King George. If the ground was good or even if it was good to firm, we might have to take a chance. That's the big day. We will see how we are going nearer the time.”

Gold also confirmed that G1 Prince of Wales's victor Mostahdaf (Ire) (Frankel {GB}) will miss next week's G1 Coral-Eclipse S., a race that has been earmarked for G1 Prix d'Ispahan winner Anmaat (Ire) (Awtaad {Ire}).

“Mostahdaf has come out of it very good, said Gold. “I spoke to [trainer] John Gosden [Saturday] and he says he is bouncing.”

“The Eclipse is off the cards for Mostahdaf. We still have Anmaat in, ground permitting. If he's in good form and conditions look suitable, hopefully, we will go there with him.”

“I think we will be sitting still with Mostahdaf and, hopefully, get him to York in the same form in August.”

Listed winner Al Asifah (GB) (Frankel {GB}), who finished sixth after being supplemented to Thursday's G2 Ribblesdale S., will also be given some time off, according to Gold.

“We'll give her a break now and get her back in the autumn,” he said. “I still think she will be a very nice filly. We haven't even discussed targets. We will give her some gentle downtime, three weeks or so, then bring her back and take it from there.”

Dual Group 2 winner Mutasaabeq (GB) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}) will also be given a freshener following an eleventh in the GI Queen Anne S. Tuesday. Victorious in the G2 bet365 Mile at Newmarket May 5, the 5-year-old came home fifth in Newbury's G1 Lockinge S. May 20.

“We'll see what there is for him, but we will just give him a bit of time now,” he explained. “He's had three runs relatively quickly, but he's the sort of horse who could easily come out and win another Group 2 later in the year.”

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Sam Freedman is not feeling the same pressure with the current favourite Artorius as 12 months ago.

“He is a lot shorter in the market and there is a bit more expectation, but last year it was the unknown and whether he was going to measure up–this year we know he is good enough,” he explained. “I am not so concerned about the opposition, but more where he will end up and where he will get to in the run. I am confident taking on any of the sprinters in the world, but it is a case of getting the right transit and a bit of luck.”

US interest comes in the form of the Christophe Clement-trained Big Invasion (Declaration Of War) on a big day for Dean and Patti Reeves who had a share of the Albany success of Porta Fortuna (Ire) (Caravaggio) on Friday. He faces a stark new challenge here, but looked the kind of strong closer in the GI Jaipur that will enjoy this stiff six. English queen Highfield Princess (Fr) (Night Of Thunder {Ire}) is back on the track four days after her gallant effort in the G1 King's Stand S., where she was definitely compromised by Bradsell (GB) (Tasleet {GB}) who due to his drift looked a more worthy winner than he actually was. The good news for fans of John Quinn's triple group 1 winner is that she is not the type to let such an injustice fester and the vibe from her accomplished trainer straight after was that the experience will even bring her to a peak.

“We left her down all week and looked at her on Thursday morning and she seems fine, so we're quite happy to roll the dice,” her Malton-based trainer said. “Plenty of horses have run well in both races, so it's doable. She seems bright and she's no travelling to do, which is important.”

Marc Chan's G1 British Champions Sprint S. hero Kinross (GB) (Kingman {GB}) will have to travel faster than he's ever done, something that won't be a problem for the dual Wokingham winner Rohaan (Ire) (Mayson {GB}) who finally gets his crack at the meeting's big one on the fast ground he loves. Based on his times when taking his second renewal of the day's big handicap, he would have been in the mix in this especially as he was carrying seven pounds more than the Platinum Jubilee winner Naval Crown (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) and clocked a final three furlongs 2/10 second faster than Artorius.

With the ground quickening with each passing day, Saturday's G2 Hardwicke S. could be robbed of its star turn as connections of Hukum (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) revealed they will be checking out the lay of the land ahead of the mile-and-a-half test. Trainer Owen Burrows has avoided this kind of surface since the debut of Shadwell's G1 Coronation Cup winner and would welcome some storms in Berkshire. “This was the obvious race for him, our only slight worry is the ground being a bit quick for him, so I think we'll walk the track at midday on Saturday and make sure we're happy with it,” he said of the 6-year-old who was so impressive in last month's G3 Brigadier Gerard S. “He's won on a range of grounds, but I know speaking to Sheikha Hissa after he won at Sandown that Jim [Crowley] had mentioned to her that he's so much better on good ground and we want to look after him this year–we won't risk him on fast ground.”

George Strawbridge's talented Free Wind (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) is hardly the biggest fan of fast ground either, but she handled something near this when accounting for Wednesday's G2 Duke of Cambridge S. winner Rogue Millennium (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) in the G2 Middleton S. at York last month. Pyledriver (GB) (Harbour Watch {Ire}) was on a quick surface when landing the G1 King George VI and Queen Elizabeth S. over the course and distance when last seen and Willie Muir is relishing the end of the long wait. “As I've said all the way through, this is hopefully a prep race for the King George and will put the edge on him,” he said. “I've got no doubt his ability is all still there, but he's been off the course for a long time and we just want to get through this race and move on. As long as he goes through the race nice and comes home nice, we're laughing.”

Opening the card is the seven-furlong Listed Chesham S., where Ballydoyle's strong collection of juveniles is represented by the Navan scorer Pearls And Rubies (No Nay Never) and the eye-catching Leopardstown third Content (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), a daughter of Mecca's Angel (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}). In a renewal dominated by Irish-trained fillies, others to note are Lindsay Laroche's Limerick winner Snellen (Ire) (Expert Eye {GB}) and The Curragh scorer Nemonte (Ire) (Ten Sovereigns {Ire}) who is another to represent Reeves Thoroughbred Racing owned in partnership with Steven Rocco.

Shadwell's TDN Rising Star Enfjaar (Ire) (Lope De Vega {Ire}), Ballydoyle's proven The Antarctic (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}) and Juddmonte's Covey (GB) (Frankel {GB}) seem the trio to focus on in the seven-furlong G3 Jersey S., with the latter unusually impressive in the always-competitive Silver Bowl H. at Haydock last month. “He's a very exciting horse and we look forward to seeing him out again,” Juddmonte racing manager Barry Mahon said. “He looks to have plenty of pace for seven furlongs and he gets a mile, so the stiff seven in Ascot should be fine for him.”

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“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 gelding began last year with a half-length success in the John Smith's Cup on July 9 at York and then landed a win in the G3 Betfred Rose Of Lancaster S. by four lengths at Haydock on Aug. 6.

Burrows went on to say, “You've got Group 3s at Sandown–Gordon Richards and the Brigadier Gerard–but he'd have a Group 2 penalty in those, so I think if we're happy and he's showing all the right signs at home, then why not have a crack?”

As for other members of the Shadwell lineup in his care, plans for the return of Hukum (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}), who won the G1 Coronation Cup over Pyledriver (GB) (Harbour Watch {Ire}) last June, are also under advisement. A hind leg injury ended the full-brother to Baaeed (GB)'s year, but after a successful operation, he began the rehabilitation process. A bid later this year for the G1 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe could be feasible.

“I was speaking to Angus [Gold, Shadwell racing manager] about a month ago about whether we'd be brave enough to go back to Epsom first time out, but we're probably not,” said Burrows.

“We'll probably have a prep run somewhere in May, with a view to the main target being the [G2] Hardwicke S. at Royal Ascot and then the races are all pretty mapped out for him. The good thing with him is that he's shown a preference for going on soft ground, so it's lovely to think he'd be turning up in France in October. He's rehabbed well and Sheikha Hissa was quite keen to give him another chance.”

Burrows also provided an update on Alflaila (GB) Dark Angel {Ire}), who scored a trio of listed and Group 3 victories at the end of last season before sustaining a fracture to his left fetlock. That ruled him out for a Bahrain run in November, but he is making strides with his recovery and is expected back soon.

“Alflaila is still back at Shadwell, I had an update a few weeks ago and he was back cantering,” he said. “I'm hoping he'll be back with me next week or the week after at the latest.”

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The rest of the 2022 G1 Coronation Cup victor's campaign was derailed by a hind leg injury acquired during that 4 1/4-length defeat of 2021 Coronation Cup scorer Pyledriver (GB) (Harbour Watch {Ire}). After surgery to insert three screws, the Owen Burrows trainee is now back in training after a lengthy break, and will be targeted toward summer prizes.

Shadwell's racing manager Angus Gold said of the six-time group winner, “He has been back in training a while now, so as long as he stays in one piece, he will remain in training. There isn't a plan. There is no point having a plan in January, as we don't know if he will be sound in the middle of February.

“I would think he will be out from the middle of summer onwards. We need to take one step at a time with him. There is no point making a plan in case it all goes wrong.

“Hopefully we can stay on track.”

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