Latest News

"The Prix de Diane would be possible as the mile and a half of the Oaks might be a bit too far for her...”

Shadwell’s highly exciting homebred Falakeyah cemented her Classic claims by trouncing her rivals in the Listed Pretty Polly Stakes at Newmarket on Sunday. 

The Owen Burrows-trained filly travelled powerfully in the front rank and kept drawing further clear, eventually scoring by three and a quarter lengths.

She is now unbeaten in both her starts, having broken her maiden by five and a half lengths on the all-weather at Wolverhampton last November.

Shadwell's great homebred racemare Taghrooda took the Pretty Polly Stakes en route to her brilliant victory in the Oaks in 2014, but Falakeyah is unlikely to line up in the Classic at Epsom in June, reported connections.

“You have to be very impressed with her,” said Burrows. “She’s a big, strong filly who set her own fractions and did it the hard way. She changed her legs in the Dip, which she was entitled to do, and she’s clearly very exciting.

“We’ll have to talk it over, but Jim Crowley said a mile and a half would be far enough for her. The Prix de Diane would be possible as the mile and a half of the Oaks might be a bit too far for her.”

Falakeyah, by New Bay, is the second winner from as many foals out of Alaflaak, a daughter of War Front and Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf heroine Lahudood, after the smart Rowayeh. 

Alaflaak is meanwhile a half-sister to Longchamp Listed winner Aghareed, who found further fame as the dam of champions Baaeed – a Shadwell stallion at Beech House Stud in Newmarket – and Hukum. Alaflaak has a 2025 colt at foot by Mostahdaf. 

Falakeyah is yet another high-class performer who traces back to Shadwell’s outstanding matriarch Height Of Fashion.