Alyanaabi's connections are eager to see him reach the finish line over a mile, and after finishing a creditable fifth in the 2000 Guineas, the St James's Palace Stakes will probably be his next stop.
Owen Burrows' colt was sent out at 11-1 in the Newmarket Classic by Jim Crowley. The colt finished second to City Of Troy in the Dewhurst over the Rowley Mile at two and was the winner of the Tattersalls Stakes.
After racing away from the leaders from his position on the near side, he was beaten by the impressive winner Notable Speech by just under five lengths. Although his team had originally considered going up on a trip with Too Darn Hot's son, his big-race pilot persuaded connections to give the mile trip another shot.
Alyanaabi is entered in the Irish 2,000 Guineas later this month. While a rematch at Classic Honours is still possible, a trip to Royal Ascot is more likely for the gifted colt owned by Shadwell.
“I thought it was a very good run and if anything the race slightly got away from him on the far side,” said Angus Gold, racing manager for Shadwell. “It didn’t make the difference between winning or losing but it might have made it a bit easier for him to get involved. The first two or three quickened better than him so we sort of toyed with the idea of going up in trip, but Jim felt he has the speed for a mile and if we just ride him with a bit more cover next time, that is how quickened when he won his Group race last year – quickening from behind. We’ll try him one more time at a mile and see how we get on. Ireland is a possibility but if I was a betting man, I would say it is more likely we will wait for Ascot. It may be that he isn’t good enough, but we would like to give it another go and see where we are and if we have to go on a trip afterwards, so be it.”