Aussie raider Asfoora relishing Royal Ascot debut

By James Toney

They travel half way around the world and whoosh, they take down the establishment in the blink of an eye.

Royal Ascot has been a happy hunting ground for Australian sprinters even since the brilliant Choisir blazed a trail that no-one could follow.

Since that win 21 years ago, Aussie raiders Takeover Target, Miss Andretti, Scenic Blast and Nature Strip have won the meeting's five-furlong Group One showpiece, now known as King Charles III Stakes.

Henry Dwyer's Asfoora perhaps doesn't have the same profile ahead of her debut, though is a two-time Group Two winner and had twice placed the top level.

Her last run, a European bow at Haydock, was not necessarily eye-catching with Dwyer urging patience ahead of a campaign that will include targets in Ireland and France, as well as Champions Series meetings in York and Goodwood.

"At her peak, which she will be at Ascot and beyond, she is well and truly up to it," said Dwyer, who has never had a runner at the royal meeting and has booked Oisin Murphy for the ride.

"I think it will be a challenge for her but she will run really well. I would love to see her run in the top three or four, if she can do that, she will be really well placed for her next two runs.

"We thought we would come over and give it a good shot. In her right conditions, I think she can win a Group One, we knew we would probably need the run at Haydock a little bit.

"She would just be sitting in a paddock in Australia. She has won Group Two and Group Three races but never a Group One, and we thought there were better opportunities for her here to win one than at home

“It was particularly strong at home with a horse called Imperatriz, who was rated the world’s best sprinter, and we kept running good races behind her without being able to beat her.

"We almost came over to get away from Imperatriz more than anything, but she has been retired so we probably pulled the wrong rein there."

Dwyer makes no secret that the hugely impressive Big Evs, who sparkled on their seasonal reappearance at York and comes into Royal Ascot on the back of five wins in six, is the one to beat but believes there is not much to separate the rest.

"I've been to Ascot as a fan, it was great fun, so I thought if it is this much fun without a horse, what would it be like with one? I never thought I’d get an opportunity but here we are," he added.

“We have spoken to a number of [Australian] trainers who have come over, both on the horse side and the social side, and got a few tips there. A win would be amazing but, on a professional level, just running competitively is a win for us. We feel we have got her to her peak – that might not be good enough but if it is it will be a huge thing for us."