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Connections of Alflaila have decided to cough up the €75,000 supplementary fee for him to take his place in the Group 1 Royal Bahrain Irish Champion Stakes at Leopardstown on Saturday.
Owen Burrows' colt showed progressive form at three in a campaign that culminated in victory in the Group 3 Darley Stakes at Newmarket in October.
The son of Dark Angel wasn't seen until defeating My Prospero in the Sky Bet York Stakes at York in July. Connections were eyeing a step up the top-level in the Juddmonte International, but with the powerful Shadwell operation already having a leading contender and eventual winner Mostahdaf for that contest, the Owen Burrows-trained colt has had to wait until this weekend to tackle Group 1 company.
Angus Gold, racing manager of Shadwell, explained: "The other choice was the Juddmonte International, but we were lucky enough to have Mostahdaf there and we chose not to run the two of them against each other,"
"Alflaila wasn't in the Irish Champion initially because he obviously had a little injury at the end of last year and we hadn't seen him back on the track when the entries were made, but it now makes sense to have a go at this.
"It's a very high-class race, as you would expect, but we'll have a go and see what happens."
As expected, Mostahdaf will not be making the trip across the Irish Sea, with Gold adding: "To be honest I don't think Mostahdaf was ever really going to come here. Straight after the race at York, it was an obvious one to mention, but realistically we said we'd give him a bit of time between his races, and we'd love to go to Ascot for the Champion Stakes.
"It is unlikely he'll run there if the weather has turned by then, so let's hope we get a dry autumn, otherwise it will probably be the Breeders' Cup [Turf]."
Burrows has already enjoyed a stellar campaign with Hukum landing the King George VI And Queen Elizabeth Qipco Stakes at Ascot in July, and Alflaila is a general 5/1 chance behind King Of Steel (13/8) and Auguste Rodin (10/3) to give the Lambourn-based trainer another Group 1 success.
