Explosive sprinting mare Asfoora continued the golden run for Australian trained sprinters at Royal Ascot when she scored a dashing win in the Gr1 King Charles III Stakes (5f).
Second up in an exciting United Kingdom sojourn, Asfoora sat just off the speed in the famous straight race dash before unleashing an electrifying burst to reel in the leaders and race to a soft one length victory.
Adelaide Graduate Asfoora Stars at Royal Ascot (Pic – Megan Rose Photography)
The classy five-year-old daughter of Flying Artie ran a credible fourth in the Gr2 Temple Stakes at Haydock in her first European run in late May – that time on soft ground.
At Royal Ascot, Asfoora relished getting back on top of the ground on a quicker track and she let her class shine through to capture a deserved first win at the elite level.
The win is a career peak for Ballarat based trainer Henry Dwyer and not surprisingly he was over the moon with the big race success.
“That is the best thing that has ever happened,” Dwyer said. “Aside from my wedding day and obviously the birth of my children – so fourth in line is Asfoora winning at Royal Ascot.”
“We came a long way from Ballarat, but it’s been just an amazing experience from start to finish. We’ve been so well looked after, and we are so grateful for that.”
“It was a bit of an audacious plan. We got a bit of stick back at home for bringing her over because she wasn’t seen as one of our better sprinters.”
“We were so confident. She’s textbook, wheelhouse five furlongs and she’s proven that today. We just didn’t have the races for her in Australia – but she’s proven she’s up to it and I’m so thrilled for everyone involved.”
Asfoora found her way to the Dwyer stable after failing to reach her A$30,000 reserve when offered by breeder Noor Elaine Farm at the 2020 Magic Millions Adelaide Yearling Sale at Morphettville.
“It was very fulfilling to be here to see her win,” owner Akram El-Fahkri told reporters. “She deserves a Group One and she’s now won one!”
“She’s become part of the family and we love her, and we are very thrilled.”
“This is my first time in England, and it’s been breathtaking,” El-Fahkri added.
Asfoora is one of two Group One winners sired to date by the former explosive sprinting two and three-year-old Flying Artie. Interestingly the other, globetrotting sprinter Artorius, was also a Magic Millions Yearling Sale graduate.
Her dam, the four-time raced and Victorian placed I Am Invincible mare Golden Child, is from an Adelaide and Melbourne winning King’s Best mare who is a half-sister to five stakes horses including Big Chill, Hard Stride and Utah Saints.
Winner: Asfoora
- Breeding: Flying Artie-Golden Child (I Am Invincible)
- Race: Royal Ascot King Charles III S. Gr1 (5f)
- Passed for: A$24,000
- Sale: 2020 Magic Millions Adelaide Yearling Sale
- Earnings: A$2,085,139
- Breeder: Noor Elaine Farm
- Vendor: Noor Elaine Farm
- Reserve: A$30,000
- Owners: Noor Elaine Farm Pty Ltd (Mgr: A A El-Fahkri)
- Trainer: Henry Dwyer (Ballarat)
