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Owen Burrows’ Alflaila made it back-to-back victories in the Group 2 Sky Bet York Stakes on the Knavesmire on Saturday.
As was always a possibility, the four-runner affair turned into something of a dash for home after Callum Shepherd set out to dictate the tempo on unlucky Hampton Court Stakes runner-up King's Gambit.
It looked as though Harry Charlton's progressive three-year-old was set to cling on to the ten-furlong prize as the field of four set out to do battle inside the final furlong, but with a late thrust under an all-action Jim Crowley drive, it was Owen Burrows' 9/4 joint favourite Alflaila who would record back-to-back victories having landed the spoils twelve months ago.
Sir Michael Stoute's impressive Huxley Stakes winner never looked like landing a blow off a sedate gallop but ran on nicely to finish a further three-quarters of a length behind King's Gambit in third.
"He's had his setbacks, unfortunately," said Burrows (Racing TV) of the winner, who was having just his second start of the season after finishing fourth behind Auguste Rodin in the Prince Of Wales's Stakes at Royal Ascot. "He's not easy, he can take a bit of a grip but the whole team at home has done a good job. It helps when you have one as willing as him."
"Jim felt it was only the last half furlong that we were getting going. I think Jim's move round the turn to adopt a handier position probably won him the race."
Alflaila could now be set for a return to Yorkshire, with Burrows admitting a tilt at the Juddmonte International, for which Paddy Power cut him to 12/1 (from 16s), might be hard to turn down.
He added: "A stronger run race will suit and here really suits him. It would be hard not to come back here."