With Grand Final Day looming, trainer Henry Dwyer is anticipating a significantly improved performance from his seasoned mare Asfoora in the King Charles III Stakes on the inaugural day of Royal Ascot.
The seven-year-old mare, a daughter of Flying Artie, who clinched the 1005-metre Group 1 sprint at Royal Ascot two years prior, is aiming to regain winning form after two unplaced efforts that have marked the beginning of what is expected to be her final racing campaign.
After finishing tenth in the Group 3 Palace House Stakes (1005m) at Newmarket on May 2, Asfoora ended up last of the twelve runners in the Group 2 Temple Stakes (1005m) at Haydock three weeks later. Nevertheless, Dwyer stated that she has benefited from these runs and will be equipped with blinkers this week.
“She’s had the two runs back and is certainly much fitter now,” Dwyer conveyed.
“She looks well and with the blinkers going on we are hoping she can turn her form around on Tuesday.”
Asfoora has drawn barrier 26 from a full field of 26 for the straight-track race, scheduled for 12.40am AEST on Wednesday.
The other Australian contender, Overpass, will not be far from Asfoora in the starting lineup, having drawn gate 19.
Overpass is the current favourite at $3.40, ahead of French mare Rayevka (barrier 15), Temple Stakes winner Night Raider (sixth), defending champion American Affair (18), and Coolmore’s three-year-old Mission Central (24). These are the only horses with shorter odds than Asfoora, who is considered a $10 chance.
Asfoora and American Affair, the winner of last year’s King Charles III Stakes where Asfoora finished fifth, are both vying to join the exclusive club of 12 horses that have won the King Charles III Stakes on multiple occasions.
The past multiple winners include Equiano (2008/10), Elbio (1991/93), Hornet’s Beauty (1911/13), and Woolsthorpe (1895/97), all achieving this in non-consecutive years.
Asfoora subsequently went on to win the Group 1 Nunthorpe Stakes (1005m) at York and the Group 1 Prix De L’abbeye (1000m) at Longchamp after her run in last year’s King Charles III Stakes. While Dwyer is aware that her international racing journey is drawing to a close, he is already making plans for her life after racing.
The Ballarat horseman recently obtained his UK license and has two European gallopers set to compete under his name later in the week. The Ten Sovereigns colt Synners Kid will participate in the Britannia Stakes on Thursday, with Kodiac’s filly Kochella scheduled to make her second appearance in the Group 3 Albany Stakes the following day.
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