The decision to stay clear of Giga Kick paid off the connections of Asfoora after the quality daughter of Flying Artie made a winning return in Saturday's Listed The McCafe 1100 Stakes at Caulfield.
Ridden by Mitchell Aitken for Henry Dwyer, Asfoora finished strongly to defeat Midwest (Zoustar) by a length, with Ingratiating (Frosted) a long-head back in third.
The winner of the Group II MRC Caulfield Sprint and Group III Furphy Sprint, Asfoora advances her earnings to seven wins and two thirds from 12 starts with earnings of $914,765.
Dwyer was toying with starting Asfoora in next week's Group 1 McKewen Stakes.
"We had a bit of leap of faith preparation last time where we knew we were going to some pretty smart races, and in fairness, she probably should've won one or two of them, but she didn't and it was just important to come here and win today," Dwywe said
"We could've gone to the McEwen next week, but you've got Giga Kick and those sort of horses going there. We just wanted to get her back on a winning note and try to build on the preparation rather than constantly chasing last time.
"It’s just so much to do with her mental wellbeing, I don’t think she was overly impressive today in the sense that she’s run away from them previously, but that’s when she’s down in the weights with 52(kg)... she needs to step up and I think she has. Carrying 57kg against some decent sprinters, first up with a little bit of improvement to come, I think she bodes well for what’s coming ahead.
“Mitch (Aitken) rode her beautifully, she came out, he didn’t want to be eyeballed by Midwest so just came back, checked off it, sat outside. We knew it’d probably be a little bit vulnerable late, as we would be first up, there’s still a little bit to come, so to get the win and knowing that there’s more to come is great.”
“I think in this sprint races around Caulfield, you get the first 300 metres right and the rest sort of takes care of itself… she always looked the winner, probably didn’t run away from them as, not as we hoped, but as she had previously but up in the weights now as a multiple group winning mare and still a little bit to come.”
“She’s a multiple Group 2 and 3 winner so we need a Group 1, the Moir’s her go, lovely little four week gap, I think she’s really good fresh, so fresh, with a run under her belt four weeks earlier I think is an ideal scenario so hopefully she can draw a gate around The Valley and do it all again.
Bred by Noor Elaine Farm and retained to race after she was passed in at the 2020 Magic Millions Adelaide Yearling Sale, Asfoora is the first foal of placed I Am Invincible mare Golden Child, who comes from the family of Group III winner Big Chill and stakes-winners Hard Stride and Utah Saints.
Golden Child has a 2-year-old colt by Ilovethiscity, which was a $180,000 purchase for Henry Dwyer Racing from the Noor Elaine Farm draft at the 2023 Magic Millions Adelaide Yearling Sale.
Golden Child was covered late last spring by Dirty Work, but is already booked back to visit Flying Artie this spring.
Flying Artie stands his first season at Blue Gum Farm at $16,500.
