Alflaila (GB), Shadwell's dual winner of the G2 York Stakes, has been retired and will begin his stallion career later this year at White Robe Lodge in New Zealand, the stud announced on Monday.
Trained by Owen Burrows, Alflaila retires as the winner of seven of his 19 career starts and over £550,000 in prize-money. His other notable victories included the G3 Strensall Stakes at York and G3 Darley Stakes at Newmarket in 2022, while last year he also finished fourth in the G1 Prince Of Wales's Stakes at Royal Ascot, before returning to the Knavesmire to win the York Stakes for the second consecutive year.
“He repeatedly proved he belonged at the top level,” Burrows summed up. “He was sharp enough to win over six [furlongs] first out as a two-year-old and he showed a brilliant turn of foot that day.”
Alflaila is one of three winners from as many runners out of the Listed-placed Adhwaa (GB) (Oasis Dream {GB}) who, in turn, is out of the Listed Cheshire Oaks heroine Hammiya (Ire) (Darshaan {GB}). The team at White Robe Lodge has also been buoyed by the success another son of Dark Angel (Ire), Harry Angel (Ire), has enjoyed with his runners in the Southern Hemisphere, including at Rosehill on Saturday when Private Harry (Aus) won the G1 Kia Ora Galaxy.
“With the way he's going in Australia, Harry Angel is the youngest stallion in the top ten at the moment,” White Robe Lodge's Jack Stewart told The Thoroughbred Report. “Everyone knows the sireline now. We're pretty lucky to have Australia right next door. They [New Zealand breeders] would have respected the Dark Angel line already, but it helps that a son is already down in this area and going well.
“It's a great damsire line as well. The first two damsires are champion sires and the third damsire is Fairy King, who has been superb in this part of the world, too. It's just one of those things where him on type, and then his race performance and pedigree, too, it all just makes sense for us.”
Stewart added, “He won seven races and five of them were at stakes level. He lined up and he pinned his ears back, and you could just tell when you watched the race, that he had a real will to win.”
Alflaila will be offered at an introductory fee of NZ$7,000 in 2025, with a limited number of lifetime breeding rights available.
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