Aussie Mare Asfoora Wins G1 King Charles at Royal Ascot

Tara Madgwick - Wednesday June 19

Victorians celebrated at Royal Ascot overnight with Aussie bred and owned Flying Artie mare Asfoora following the path blazed successfully by many Aussie sprinters in the past when she charged home to win the Group I King Charles Stakes (5f).

Trained by Henry Dwyer and ridden by Oisin Murphy, Asfoora has won multiple Group races in Australia and been competitive at Group I level with her final run here before setting her sights on the UK resulting in a fourth in the Group I ATC The Galaxy to Zapateo on March 23.

Sent over early and given time to acclimatize, Asfoora was fourth in the Group II Temple Stakes at Haydock on soft ground last month, but bounced out of that run and was ready to fire at Ascot on firmer ground.

She unwound a big finish for Murphy and surged to the line to win by a length in 58.66 seconds beating Regional with race favourite Big Evs in third place.

“We needed a lead-up run at Haydock, so we were always going to come early, but just with the changing of seasons we wanted to be here before it was too cold in Australia and too warm. We came over in the nice interchange period and Asfoora settled in brilliantly,” said Henry Dwyer.

“We’ve come a long way from Ballarat but it’s been an amazing experience from start to finish and we’ve been so well looked after and we’re so grateful for that.”

Asfoora has now won nine of 20 starts earning over $2million in prizemoney and looks set to remain in the UK for a few more races.

Advertisement

“I've got to have a look at the race conditions again but we'd love to showcase her a bit. Everyone has just been so good to us over here and I'd love to send her down to Goodwood and up to York, but we'll put the horse first,” Dwyer added.

Oisin Murphy got the best from Asfoora and was delighted with her performance.

“I’m thrilled for connections because it was very brave to come from Australia with a very good horse but she’s taken all the travel and performed on the day,” Murphy said.

“I wasn’t focusing on Big Evs, I was focusing on Regional and he gave me the perfect tow to halfway.

“She lugged a little bit right under pressure but how good was she on the line.

Bred by Noor Elaine Farm and retained to race after she was passed in when offered for sale 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 yearling colt by Dirty Work that was bought by Henry Dywer for $140,000 at Inglis Premier and after being given a year off is now back in foal to Flying Artie.

Asfoora is the second Group I winner for Blue Gum Farm’s Flying Artie and the first for I Am Invincible as a broodmare sire.

Flying Artie stands this spring at a fee of $16,500.

Advertisment
More Reading...
One to Watch - Belmont
Racing made a welcome return to Belmont Park yesterday and the first winner to salute on the freshly renovated track was a two year-old that started a red hot favourite and could not have been more impressive!
One to Watch Wins Again in Saturday Class
The half-brother to Group II winner Stretan Angel, lightly raced three year-old Brutal gelding Glorious Moments was in a class of his own at Randwick on Saturday.
Asfoora Gallant in Defeat at Glorious Goodwood
Australian sprint queen Asfoora ran another super race at Goodwood overnight in the Group II King George Stakes (5f) with a 5lb penalty for her last start Group I victory proving the catalyst for three year-old Blue Point colt Big Evs to be able to turn the tables on the daughter of Flying Artie.
Group 1 Moir Stakes Next for Flying Artie's Asfoora
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.
First SW For So You Think Stallion Tamasa As Cicala Takes Out Lightning
One of just three named foals by the So You Think stallion Tamasa, the Will Clarken and Niki O’Shea trained 3yo filly Cicala remained unbeaten, going three from three by winning the $120,000 Listed SAJC Lightning Stakes (1050m) at Morphettville.
Flying Artie's Asfoora puts them to the Sword in Schillaci Stakes
The 5-year-old Flying Artie mare Asfoora continues on her march to the ranks of top sprinters in Australia following a blistering performance of sustained speed in Saturday’s Group II Metcap Finance Schillaci Stakes (1100m) at Caulfield.
Consecutive Black Type Victories For Snitzel Filly Bridal Waltz
Stepping up to open company is always a tough task, but 3yo Snitzel filly Bridal Waltz graduated from a last start Listed win over her own age to win the $200,000 Group 3 MRC Bletchingly Stakes (1200m) at Caulfield.
Two New SW's for Too Darn Hot
Too Darn Hot is set to be crowned Champion Australian Second Season Sire and is headed back to Darley Australia this spring at a fee of $275,000 and overnight he produced two new stakes-winners in the UK and Ireland.
Winning Hat-Trick for Gold Standard 2YO
When an unheralded sire produces a Group I winner in their first crop as happened for Sebring stallion Gold Standard it can take a long time for the benefit of that early splash to take effect, but in his case the wait is nearly over and in the meantime Destiny’s Summit is a good reminder as to his merit.
Flying Artie's Asfoora Returns From Europe A Winner
Flying Artie’s Royal Ascot heroine Asfoora returned to Australian tracks at Morphettville on Saturday and was straight to the winner’s circle, taking the Group III Sportsbet R N Irwin Stakes (1100m).