Exciting News for Australian Horse Racing Fans: Asfoora Aims to Become the Sixth Australian Winner of the King Charles III Stakes at Royal Ascot
In a thrilling development for Australian horse racing enthusiasts, the 5-year-old mare Asfoora is poised to become the sixth Australian winner of the prestigious King Charles III Stakes at Royal Ascot on Tuesday. This prestigious five-furlong sprint event has previously been conquered by esteemed Australian champions such as Choisir, Takeover Target, Miss Andretti, Scenic Blast, and Nature Strip.
Trained by Henry Dwyer, Asfoora comes into the race with an impressive pedigree, having won the Group 2 Schillaci Stakes and Caulfield Sprint. The mare is currently the equal-third favorite in the betting, trailing only the Breeders’ Cup Turf Juvenile Turf winner Big Eve, who is the $3 favorite with Ladbrokes.
Dwyer has outlined Asfoora’s preparation for the race, stating that the horse arrived in the UK five weeks prior to her last run in the Temple Stakes at Haydock, where she finished a creditable fourth as the joint-race favorite. The trainer highlighted the importance of allowing Asfoora to acclimatize to the change in seasons, as Australia is heading into winter while the UK is emerging from it.
“We came earlier to avoid the changing of the seasons, for in Australia we’re going into winter and you are coming out here, so staying longer she would have started growing a winter coat,” Dwyer explained. “It’s given her a chance to season and settle-in as we had the idea 14, 16 months ago when winning 1000m races at Caulfield, as we knew in Australia we were limited to a few short sprints.”
Asfoora’s pedigree and preparation have instilled confidence in the camp, with Dwyer noting that the mare is a “dyed in the wool five-furlong horse” and that there is a strong series of sprint races in Britain that suit her abilities. The horse’s regular rider, Mitch Aitken, has been providing valuable feedback to jockey Oisin Murphy, who will take the reins for the King Charles III Stakes.
The King Charles III Stakes, formerly known as the King’s Stand Stakes, has undergone a name change to honor the new monarch, King Charles III. This prestigious event now carries a minimum prize purse of £650,000, reflecting the Royal Ascot’s commitment to showcasing the finest equine talent on the global stage.
As the racing world eagerly awaits the start of Royal Ascot 2024, Australian horse racing fans will be keeping a close eye on Asfoora’s performance, hoping to witness the nation’s sixth victory in the King Charles III Stakes.
🔗 Source