Aussie Mare Asfoora Triumphs in G1 York Nunthorpe

Tara Madgwick - Saturday August 23

Victorians breeders celebrated overnight with Aussie bred and owned Flying Artie mare Asfoora returning to her dazzling best to win the Group I Nunthorpe Stakes (5f) at York  with a scintillating performance.

Trained by Henry Dwyer and ridden by Oisin Murphy, seven year-old Asfoora won the Group I King Charles III Stakes at Royal Ascot last year and was having her third run of her current campaign at York.

Advertisement

She enjoyed the good ground to power clear and win by a length and a  quarter taking her overall record to 11 wins, seven of them in Group races.

“It seems surreal, silly and it's all been a novelty. I've really been on a holiday with Asfoora the last two years,” said a delighted Henry Dwyer.

“It was all getting a bit hard before Ascot as we didn't have the transport, and if I'm 100 per cent honest, if I owned her I wouldn't have come back. Akram [El-Fahkri, owner] was very insistent we did and that she deserved another chance.

“I'd love to see the replay as I was under a scrum of people for the last bit, but that looked very convincing. When you know they're going to win at the two-furlong marker, you're on pretty good terms with yourself. It was an easy watch and really enjoyable.”

Her strapper Chenelle Ellis has been a big part of the Asfoor a story accompanying the mare in every step of her international travels.

Bred by Akram El-Fahkri of 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 an unraced three year-old colt by Dirty Work that was bought by Henry Dywer for $140,000 at Inglis Premier and has a yearling filly by Flying Artie, She is due to foal to him again this spring.

Flying Artie, click for more info.

Asfoora is one of two Group I winners for Blue Gum Farm’s Flying Artie, who stands this spring at a fee of $11,000.

Advertisment
More Reading...
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.
Sires With Winners - Thursday October 2
Here is the full list of 29 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Milan Park Experience Highs and Lows
Tony Rider experienced the extreme highs and lows of breeding thoroughbreds within a matter of hours on Wednesday.
Melody Belle Daughter Set for Long Awaited Debut
It will be a full-circle moment for Te Akau Racing at The Valley on Friday night when Lyrics ‘N’ Song, a daughter of their former multiple Group One winner Melody Belle, makes her debut.
Juvenile Trial Watch – Caulfield
Three barrier trials at Caulfield on Thursday morning produced heat winners for first season sires Wild Ruler and Profiteer with the quickest winner being Free Flying, the half-sister by Snitzel to brilliant Group winning mare Learning to Fly.
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).
One to Watch – Geelong
Trilogy Racing will have high hopes for the their talented filly Queen of Clubs in the Group I ATC Flight Stakes on Saturday and their colours were in the frame at Geelong on Thursday carried by a Zoustar filly that saluted on debut.
Blueblood Fillies From $3million Mares
Tom Magnier has been notable for his purchase of elite race fillies and broodmares in recent years to enhance the stellar Coolmore broodmare band and two of his $3million plus mare purchases have produced stunning fillies this spring.
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.