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An outstanding across-the-card double for Shadwell homebreds

Shadwell colour bearer Hukum ran out a brave winner of the one of the most hotly contested renewals of the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Ascot in years, on a memorable afternoon for the operation during which fellow homebred Alflaila landed the York Stakes at York.

The Owen Burrows-trained six-year-old Hukum travelled sweetly in midfield under retained rider Jim Crowley in the prestigious 12-furlong contest, won in the past by His Highness Sheikh Hamdan Al Maktoum’s superstars Nashwan and Taghrooda, before making his challenge wide around the home turn. He engaged in a thrilling battle with Irish Derby and Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud winner Westover in the straight, and knuckled down determinedly to be victorious by a head.

“Westover got first run at me but it gave me something to aim at,” reported Crowley after the race. “He was so tough, I never felt he was going to come off second best there.”

Hukum, who has now won 11 of his 17 starts, is by Sea The Stars out of the Listed-winning Kingmambo mare Aghareed, who in turn is out of Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf victress Lahudood, a descendant of Sheikh Hamdan’s wonderful blue hen producer Height Of Fashion – the dam of Nashwan as well as Nayef and Unfuwain, who both finished a gallant second in the King George.

That of course makes Hukum a full-brother to last year’s outstanding European champion Baaeed, who recently came to the end of his first covering season as a Shadwell stallion at Nunnery Stud, during which he served a glittering book of mares.

Aghareed has a two-year-old colt by Night Of Thunder, named Waleefy, and produced a full-brother to Baaeed and Hukum in February.

Alflaila, a stablemate of Hukum in Burrows’ Farncombe Down Stables, meanwhile continued his sharp improvement with a game victory over the talented My Prospero in the Group 2 York Stakes, joining a roll of honour that already featured Shadwell top-notchers Mukhadram and Elarqam.

The four-year-old started last season in handicaps but improved throughout the year before signing off with a pair of Group 3 victories in the Strensall Stakes and Darley Stakes. This was his seasonal debut after a ten-month layoff due to injury.

Alflaila was bred by Shadwell by sending the Listed-placed Oasis Dream mare Adhwaa, a half-sister to German Listed scorer Shaqira out of Cheshire Oaks winner Hammiya, to Dark Angel.