Owen Burrows contemplates Greenham Stakes for Alyanaabi ahead of Qipco 2000 Guineas.
Owen Burrows is mulling over the Greenham Stakes at Newbury as a possible launchpad for his promising colt Alyanaabi towards the prestigious Qipco 2000 Guineas.
Alyanaabi, the offspring of Too Darn Hot, clinched victory in two out of his four outings as a juvenile, notably securing the Group Three Tattersalls Stakes at Newmarket. His season culminated with a commendable performance, finishing as the best of the rest behind the exceptional two-year-old City Of Troy in the Dewhurst last October.
While City Of Troy remains the favourite to secure trainer Aidan O'Brien's 11th triumph in the season's premier Classic at the Rowley Mile, Alyanaabi stands at odds of 25-1. Burrows is eager to provide him with an opportunity to showcase his Guineas potential this spring.
Burrows expressed,
"I'm delighted with his progress over the winter, and we've recently stepped up his training. We are considering giving him a shot in a Guineas trial, with the Greenham at Newbury likely being his next race. It makes sense geographically for us, and given his successful outings at Newmarket last year, he seems to handle the Rowley Mile course well."
He added,
"It's still early days, and like many others, we haven't had much opportunity to train on grass yet. Hopefully, the conditions will improve, allowing us to prepare him adequately. Our plan is to run him at Newbury before the Guineas. City Of Troy currently leads the pack, but we aim to compete among the top contenders."
Additionally, Burrows entered Deira Mile, who secured fourth place in the Futurity Trophy, for the 2000 Guineas. However, his quest for Classic triumph might be postponed until later in the year.
Burrows explained,
"I've entered him in the English Derby, French Derby, and Irish Derby, as well as the Guineas as a precaution in case he struggles with the distance. Nonetheless, I have confidence in his stamina, especially after his performance in the Futurity under challenging conditions. The Guineas entry serves as a backup plan, and we plan to develop him as a Derby prospect. His initial race will be over a mile and a quarter in early April, followed by a potential Derby trial."