Royal Ascot winner Asfoora begins new preparation in Group 3 RN Irwin Stakes at Morphettville

Last seen finishing fourth in the Nunthorpe Stakes during a stellar European campaign, Royal Ascot conqueror Asfoora will make her long-awaited return on Saturday.

Asfoora, ridden by Oisin Murphy, wins the King Charles III Stakes at Royal Ascot. Picture: David Davies / PA Images via Getty

Last seen finishing fourth in the Nunthorpe Stakes during a stellar European campaign, Royal Ascot conqueror Asfoora will make her long-awaited return in Saturday’s Group 3 RN Irwin Stakes at Morphettville.

The globetrotting mare won the Group 1 King Charles III Stakes at Royal Ascot last June as part of a four-start UK crusade that took her to Haydock Park, Royal Ascot, Goodwood and York.

Ballarat trainer Henry Dwyer has earmarked a two-start Adelaide campaign as the launching pad for Asfoora’s second overseas tilt this winter, with Saturday’s Irwin Stakes (1100m) the traditional tune up for the $1 million Group 1 Robert Sangster Stakes on April 26.

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“We’re really happy with her, she hasn’t done heaps of work,” Dwyer said.

“She’s seven months between runs and had the one jumpout, so she’s by no means screwed down.

“It’s probably the beginning of a long preparation but we’re happy with her and she gets in pretty well at the weight-for-age conditions against sprinters rated a little bit less than her.”

The Irwin Stakes will be Asfoora’s first run since August 23, and while Dwyer isn’t expecting a blinder first-up, he wants to be encouraged enough by the performance to persist with another international mission.

“It looks a highly suitable first-up option – whether she wins, it doesn’t really matter as long as she runs well and shows she’s back in some sort of form,” he said.

“We just need her to show something to justify pushing ahead with the goals we’ve got set for her.

“It could be very well that she doesn’t win either race, as long as she runs reasonably well and finishes in the placings, I suppose, all should be good.”

One for Australia! 🇦🇺 Asfoora wins the King Charles III Stakes at Royal @Ascot! pic.twitter.com/QmVXaTLF2A

— At The Races (@AtTheRaces) June 18, 2024

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The Sangster, a weight-for-age contest for fillies and mares over 1200m, is on the limit of Asfoora’s pet distance.

The star mare has never won beyond 1100m, with one third placing from three starts at 1200m.

“We’re under no illusions that she’s not at her best at 1200m, she’s sensibly a 1000-1100m horse, but there’s just no 1000-1100m option before we go overseas,” he said.

“If she’s ever going to get 1200m it will be against her own sex at weight-for-age, I think that race (Sangster) presents a good opportunity with a nice lead up two weeks earlier.”

King Charles III (left) speaks with Asfoora’s trainer Henry Dwyer at Royal Ascot. Picture: Benjamin Cremel / AFP via Getty

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While Victorian hoop Mitch Aitken has been booked for the Irwin and the Sangster, Dwyer will utilise an overseas hoop in Europe – as he did when Oisin Murphy guided the mare to victory in the King Charles III Stakes last year.

Asfoora will arrive in Adelaide on Wednesday and stay with Goolwa trainer David Jolly.

“It’s a relaxed environment for her that she will appreciate,” Dwyer said.

“She’ll have a nice airy yard and come in at night, she might go to the beach after she races on Saturday and have a nice quiet time between then and the Sangster.”

Originally published as Royal Ascot winner Asfoora begins new preparation in Group 3 RN Irwin Stakes at Morphettville