Victorians breeders celebrated overnight with Aussie bred and owned Flying Artie mare Asfoora returning to her dazzling best on one of the world’s biggest stages to win the Group I Prix de l’Abbaye de Longchamp (1000m) with a scintillating performance on Arc Day in France.
Trained by Henry Dwyer and ridden by Oisin Murphy, seven year-old Asfoora won the Group I Nunthorpe Stakes at York in August and was a last start seventh in the Group I Flying Five at the Curragh.
Asfoora went out favourite in the big field of 17 and put the icing on the cake of a brilliant year for her connections when powering home to win by half a length over Wooded 3YO Jawwal clocking a slick 56.39 seconds.
Asfoora has won 12 of 29 starts, three of those wins coming in Group I sprints in Europe.
Henry Dwyer is the first Australian trainer to taste success on Arc Day, but an issue with the passport of Asfoora nearly ruined the fairytale, but all’s well that ends well!
Oisin Murphy has won all three Group I races on Asfoora and has become a massive fan.
“Asfoora was fantastic. The sprint course is a fair bit drier than the round course and she was basically on the bridle throughout,” he said.
“She was fortunate to have a plum [low] draw and I didn't have to ask her much, but her condition was the best it's been on the build up to this race. She still has her summer coat and it took some amount of management.”
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.
Covered again by Flying Artie last spring she produced a full brother to Asfoora on August 31.
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.
