YOU BEAUTY!
More Aussie joy at Royal Ascot as Dwyer’s Asfoora lands Group 1 sprint
The Henry Dwyer-trained Asfoora (Flying Artie) added her name to a glittering roll of honour of Australian sprinters to have made their mark at the prestigious Royal Ascot meeting when she landed Tuesday’s King Charles III Stakes (Gr 1, 5f) in tremendous fashion.
A homebred for Akram El-Fahkri’s Noor Elaine Farm, the five-year-old, who provided Blue Gum Farm’s Flying Artie (Artie Schiller) with his second elite-level winner, was a dual Group 2 winner in Australia, but took her form, and career, to new levels in landing Tuesday’s Group 1 on the biggest stage of them all.
Becoming the sixth, and just second female, Australian-trained runner to win the King Charles III Stakes, formally known as the King’s Stand Stakes, Asfoora joins the likes of Choisir (Danehill Dancer) (2003), Takeover Target (Celtic Swing) (2006), Miss Andretti (Ihtiram), (2007), Scenic Blast (Scenic) (2009), and most recently the Chris Waller-trained Nature Strip (Nicconi) (2022).
Having run fourth in The Galaxy (Gr 1, 1100m) on her final start in Australia back in March, the mare arrived in the UK with connections planning a campaign that could include as many as four starts.
Based at Amy Murphy’s Newmarket stable, Asfoora headed to Haydock last month for the Temple Stakes (Gr 2, 5f), in which she ran fourth under testing conditions, showing bright early pace before fading inside the closing stages under regular rider Mitch Aitken, who flew in for the mare’s maiden northern hemisphere task.
Back on better ground for Tuesday’s contest, with conditions described as officially good to firm, Asfoora was drawn out in stall 17 with three-time British champion jockey Oisin Murphy taking over in the saddle.
Sent off the 5-1 second-elect, Asfoora bounced out well from the gates, with Murphy content to follow pacesetter Regional (Territories) throughout the opening three furlongs.
However, with Regional under strong pressure from his rider Callum Rodriguez inside the final two furlongs, Murphy switched his mount for a clear run and, having quickened stylishly to lead inside the final furlong, Asfoora ran on to hold off the rallying Regional by a length at the line.
The Ed Bethell-trained runner-up finished a further half-length clear of Big Evs (Blue Point), who was sent off the 11-4 favourite, with Believing (Mehmas) a further short head back in fourth place.
“It’s just amazing, we’ve got so many people here sharing it with us,” an elated Dwyer told ANZ Bloodstock News.
“We’ve got the owners of Asfoora of course, but we also have another group of 40 or 50 of my owners from home that would saw their left leg off to have a runner at Royal Ascot and won’t get the opportunity, but I just want them to feel part of this and they are.
“We took her to The Quokka last year and it was more so for the travel aspect with a view to coming over here and she coped with it great. It was the making of her that, and here we are.
“It was a great ride, he’s [Oisin Murphy)]a world-class jockey and he is hard not to like.”
Dwyer admitted he wasn’t convinced that his mare could go on to land Tuesday’s Group 1 sprint, but knew getting back on to top of the ground would be a big positive.
“I wasn’t overly confident, I was thinking if we could get top three that’d be good,” he said. “I came here thinking she had a bit to find, but she’s done just that.
“It’s hard to gauge how much improvement the horse has had from first to second-up, but she clearly had a fair bit left in the locker so I’m thrilled.
“It was just too testing at Haydock and she needed the run, I wasn’t sure how much she’d improve to be honest. I didn’t in my wildest dreams think she’d go on and win like that!”
Murphy, who was riding his 12th Royal Ascot winner, was quick to praise both the mare’s tenacity and Dwyer’s efforts in preparing his mount for the big race.
“When push came to shove she was very gutsy,” the winning rider told ANZ Bloodstock News. “I wasn’t sure [if we’d get there] as the other group led by Big Evs looked a good way in front of us so I have to admire her tenacity to go and run them down.
“It really is very special because it’s a very difficult feat to bring a horse over [from Australia] at this time of year. We’re approaching their winter, so to prepare her, it’s a top job.”
When asked about what it means to have a winner at the royal meeting, Dwyer encouraged other Australian-based owners and trainers to have a crack.
“You’ve just got so much prize-money in Australia that a lot of them tend to stay at home now, but you just cannot beat the pomp and ceremony and pageantry,” the winning trainer said.
“If you’ve got a horse that is capable of coming over, you’d be mad not to as it is an amazing experience.”
Asfoora (5 m Flying Artie – Golden Child by I Am Invincible), who is the first foal, and only winner out of the I Am Invincible (Invincible Spirit) mare Golden Child, will now head to the paddock for a break. After that she could target the King George Stakes (Gr 2, 5f) at next month’s Glorious Goodwood meeting before taking in the Nunthorpe Stakes (Gr 1, 5f) at York in August, with the latter of those events having always been the main target.
“She’ll probably have two weeks in the paddock now and then we’ll aim towards Goodwood and York,” Dwyer said.
“She’s still got a programme of races left if she comes through today well and we’d love to go to another few races over here.
“York was our grand final and that is still the plan provided she pulls up safe and well.”
Cox Plate on the agenda for OTI’s Docklands after Queen Anne second
Harry Eustace and OTI Racing’s Terry Henderson are dreaming of Cox Plate (Gr 1, 2040m) glory with Docklands (Massaat) after the four-year-old ran a huge race to be second in Tuesday’s opening Queen Anne Stakes (Gr 1, 1m) at Royal Ascot.
Having run no worse than third in four previous outings over course and distance, including landing the Britannia Handicap (1m) at last year’s royal meeting, the son of Massaat (Teofilo) lined up for his first start in Group 1 company as a 10-1 chance and gave a more than respectable account of himself.
Jumping from barrier six under Hayley Turner, the colt, who had finished an unlucky second in a Listed contest at Longchamp on his previous start on May 23, sat last of the 13-runner field for most of the contest.
Making headway with over two furlongs left to race, Docklands kept on well inside the closing stages but could not get to grips with winner Charyn (Dark Angel), eventually finishing a very honourable two and a quarter lengths second.
The William Haggas-trained Maljoom (Caravaggio), who lost ground at the start after jumping slowly from the gates, finished third, a further two and three-quarter lengths behind.
“It’s a big run from him, it’s a big step up for him on what we’ve been in before but he just loves this track,” Eustace told ANZ Bloodstock News after the race.
“He travelled very well and the winner has been the most progressive horse all year and he was much the best today, but to be second-best in the Queen Anne Stakes is unreal.
“It just suits him best being held up, we weren’t going to change the way we ride him, and the winner didn’t even get first run, he was just better.”
Eustace revealed he had contemplated heading for the Wolferton Stakes (Listed, 1m 2f) later on the same card, but a combination of factors swayed his decision to target the Group 1.
“We were considering the Wolferton for a while, but it was his track form that made us decide to come here, and probably the fact that Inspiral defected to the Prince of Wales’s Stakes,” Eustace said.
“The drying ground likely helped too, as the proven performers all have form on soft ground.”
As for future plans, Eustace was a little hesitant to mark down any immediate targets, but a trip over to Australia was confirmed.
“We haven’t thought past this yet,” the trainer admitted. “Australia has always been the end of year agenda and we’ve just worked back from that really. We wanted to wait and see if he was competitive at this level.
“He’s been a lot of fun and there’s plenty left ahead of him.”
Henderson, who was clearly overjoyed with his colt’s performance, admitted that the Cox Plate (Gr 1, 2040m) was definitely on the agenda for Docklands following Tuesday’s effort.
“When you take a horse that has yet to win a Listed race and put him in at this level and he runs second in a Group 1 at Royal Ascot, it’s special,” Henderson told ANZ Bloodstock News.
“I think he was [beaten by the better horse]. We have no excuses here today, in his races he gets back a little bit but he does really well.
“It lays a great foundation to go ahead with for the rest of the season. The Cox Plate is really on the radar now, we’ll get him out to 2000 metres first, but certainly now he has that Group 1 placing, the Cox Plate jumps into contention.
“He may even come back here after Australia, we will see how the year rolls out from here.”
Charyn (4 c Dark Angel – Futoon by Kodiac), whose three previous starts this season saw him land both the Sandown Mile (Gr 2, 1m) and Doncaster Mile Stakes (Listed, 1m) and run second in the Lockinge Stakes (Gr 1, 1m), was a worthy winner under Silvestre De Sousa for trainer Roger Varian and owner Nurlan Bizakov, who purchased the son of Dark Angel (Acclamation) for 250,000gns at Book 2 of the Tattersalls October Yearling Sale in 2021.
“It doesn’t get any better, a Group 1 at Royal Ascot,” Varian said. “I am really delighted for his owner, who has invested so much in the game and has supported me for a number of years. For my team I am delighted, as everyone works so hard at home. It is a great day and we’ll enjoy it.
“You have to say Charyn has improved as he’s got older. He ran some fine races in defeat last year. He was in the biggest races, on the top table and didn’t disgrace himself.
“He seems to have found another level of form this year. His run in the Lockinge last time was an outstanding run, and he’s confirmed that today so I’m thrilled.”
Second for Flying Artie
Blue Gum Farm stallion Flying Artie (Artie Schiller) sired his second elite-level winner when Asfoora (5 m ex Golden Child by I Am Invincible) landed Tuesday’s King Charles III Stakes (Gr 1, 5f) at Royal Ascot. A homebred for Akram El-Fahkri’s Noor Elaine Farm, Asfoora is the first foal, and only winner, out of the I Am Invincible (Invincible Spirit) mare Golden Child. Flying Artie’s other Group 1 winner is 2021 Blue Diamond Stakes (Gr 1, 1200m) hero Artorius, who ran third and fourth respectively in the 2022 and 2023 renewals of Royal Ascot’s Platinum Jubilee Stakes (Gr 1, 6f), now known as the Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes. Flying Artie will stand the 2024 season for a fee of $16,500 (inc GST), unchanged from 2023.
17 for Dark Angel
Charyn (4 c ex Futoon by Kodiac) provided Yeomanstown Stud resident Dark Angel (Acclamation) with a 17th individual elite-level winner when taking out the opening Queen Anne Stakes (Gr 1, 1m) at Royal Ascot on Tuesday. Trained by Roger Varian, the four-year-old was winning for the fifth time in 15 starts, a haul which now includes three successes in black-type company. Bought for 250,000gns out of Book 2 at the Tattersalls October Yearling Sale, Charyn is the second foal out of the Listed-placed winner Futoon (Kodiac) making him a brother to the Group 3 scorer Wings Of War. Dark Angel’s Group 1-winning sons include crack sprinter Battash and Darley shuttler Harry Angel. A Group 1 winner himself, Dark Angel stands for a fee of €60,000 (approx. AU$97,065).
103 for Holy Roman Emperor
Rashabar (2 c ex Amazonka by Camelot) built on the promise he had shown in his two starts to date when getting the better of his 21 rivals to land Royal Ascot’s Coventry Stakes (Gr 2, 6f) and bely his starting price of 80-1. Placed on both his previous outings, the Brian Meehan-trained youngster just held on to deny Electrolyte (Hello Youmzain) by a nose with Columnist (Ardad) a head further behind in third. In winning the race, Rashabar became the 103rd individual stakes winner for Coolmore’s former shuttler Holy Roman Emperor (Danehill). Bought by Sam Sangster Bloodstock for €120,000 at Arqana’s Deauville August Yearling Sale, Rashabar is the first foal out of the unraced Camelot (Montjeu) mare Amazonka who is a half-sister to, among others, the Group 3 winner River Of Stars (Sea The Stars). Holy Roman Emperor, who shuttled for 11 years, now resides permanently at Castle Hyde Stud for a fee of €8,000 (approx. AU$12,935).
Delight for Loughnane as he rides first Royal Ascot winner
Billy Loughnane’s meteoric rise through the riding ranks in the UK reached new heights on Tuesday when he partnered shock winner Rashabar to a landmark success in the Coventry Stakes. “I haven’t even been riding two years yet,” said the 18-year-old son of trainer Mark Loughnane, who made his breakthrough in 2023 when riding 64 winners. “I had my 200th career winner last night at Windsor, and I came here this week just praying I would manage to get on the board with one. To do it so early is a massive relief, and I can’t thank everyone from Brian Meehan’s and everyone involved.” Meehan, who has now trained eight Royal Ascot winners, said: “He’s been training so well at home and the team have done a tremendous job. We got to 48 hours ago and we thought we were in good shape.” When asked about how special it was to win the race with a horse carrying the famous Sangster colours, Meehan said: “It is. You can try and keep a lid on things now but we’ll draw breath in an hour or so and take some pleasure out of it. Right now it’s just about showing what we can do, the team at home, the early mornings, the late nights, everything that’s done, the talking, the thinking and the working it out. It’s just very special.”
Rosallion joins greats on St James’s Palace Stakes roll of honour
Rosallion (3 c Blue Point – Rosaline by New Approach) put himself firmly in contention to be crowned Europe’s champion miler when he followed up his victory in the Irish 2,000 Guineas (Gr 1, 1m) at the Curragh last month with a win in Tuesday’s St James’s Place Stakes (Gr 1, 1m) at Royal Ascot.
Already a Group 1 scorer at two, the Richard Hannon-trained colt added a third elite-level victory to a record which now reads five wins and two placings from seven starts, as he finished best of all to down Henry Longfellow (Dubawi) by a neck. The runner-up was reversing form on the third-placed horse Metropolitan (Zarak) who won when the pair clashed in last month’s Poule d’Essai des Poulains (Gr 1, 1600m) at Longchamp.
Notable Speech (Dubawi), who was sent off the 6-4 favourite after defeating Rosallion in the English 2,000 Guineas (Gr 1, 1m), lost his unbeaten record, finishing seventh of the eight runners.
Hannon, who tasted success in the race with Barney Roy (Excelebration) back in 2017, said: “He’s a complete package. He’s as good as I’ve ever seen in our place.
“He was bred by Sheikh Mohammed Obaid and is a great advert for a new stallion. Quite often you call these horses something that they’re not, because you want them to be the best horse you’ve trained – and quite often you are disappointed. That’s an occupational hazard. But this lad has never let me down.
“He’s in the Sussex [Stakes], he’s in all those big races, and I can’t wait.”
Winning rider Sean Levey added: “I think once I had him out in the open I always thought I would pick the leader up. This horse really has to have something to aim at, I think he showed that at the Curragh. As soon as I got him out, there was always going to be plenty in the tank.
“It means the world to me, and everyone at home, there is a lot of work that goes into this horse.
“I always said I always had great belief in the horse. I always hoped he would be that horse I’ve been waiting for all my career. People say to me you remember the horse along with who rode it.”
In winning Tuesday’s race, Rosallion joined the likes of Rock Of Gibraltar (Danehill), Canford Cliffs (Tagula) and Kingman (Invincible Spirit) as the 14th horse to complete the Irish Guineas-St James’s Palace Stakes double, and also added his name to a roll of honour which features such illustrious names as Frankel (Galileo), Palace Pier (Kingman) and Shamardal (Giant’s Causeway).
Israr too good in Wolferton Stakes romp
Israr (5 h Muhaarar – Taghrooda by Sea The Stars) proved to be a cut above his rivals when running out a clear winner of Royal Ascot’s Wolferton Stakes (Listed, 1m 2f) on Tuesday. Dropping back in grade, the Group 2-winning five-year-old beat Haunted Dream (Oasis Dream) by three and a quarter lengths with Torito (Kingman) just a short–head further away in third. A homebred for Shadwell out of their Classic-winning mare Taghrooda (Sea The Stars), Israr has now won five of his 18 starts, placing on a further ten occasions. Jim Crowley, who rode the winner for father-and-son training partnership John and Thady Gosden, said: “I had a nice pitch in the race, I was happy to be down the rail, I was hoping to work my way through horses and then all of a sudden, two furlongs out it opens up like the Red Sea. It never happens normally when you need it. In fairness to the horse, he got there, he didn’t stop, put his head down and yeah, it’s great. It was a perfect trip, he loves fast ground, they went a nice even tempo. He was faultless today.”
Prescott adds to Ascot tally – at last
Sir Mark Prescott sent out his third Royal Ascot winner – 28 years after his second – when Pledgeofallegiance (Sea The Stars) struck under Luke Morris in the Ascot Stakes (2m 4f) on Tuesday. The four-year-old, who was running over the marathon trip for the first time, saw off the late challenge of Divine Comedy (Le Havre) to win by a half-length with Kyle Of Lochalsh (Highland Reel) another two and a half lengths away in third. A 450,000gns buy as a yearling, Pledgeofallegiance was winning for the fifth time on what was his 13th start. “Everything went as we planned and I couldn’t be more grateful,” said Prescott. “He was an expensive horse – the only thing he’s ever done wrong is cost plenty of money, but he’s been a grand horse. I’m very relieved because they are good owners and they’ve spent a lot of money so it’s very rewarding that they’ve had a Royal Ascot winner.”
Mullins goes back-to-back in Copper Horse
Belloccio (Belardo) handed trainer Willie Mullins with his second straight success in the Copper Horse Handicap (1m 6f) when landing the closing race on Tuesday’s Royal Ascot card. Making just his second start for Mullins since moving from David Menuisier, the six-year-old gelding beat Lmay (Frankel) by one and a quarter lengths with a further short-head back to My Mate Mozzie (Born To Sea) in third. Mullins sent out Vauban (Galiway) to land last year’s Copper Horse by a whopping seven and a half lengths prior to an unsuccessful raid on the Melbourne Cup (Gr 1, 3200m).
Gold Cup attracts field of ten
Favourite Kyprios (Galileo) will face nine rivals when he attempts to regain his title in Thursday’s Ascot Gold Cup (Gr 1, 2m 4f). The Aidan O’Brien-trained six-year-old, who has won both his starts this season following an injury plagued 2023, will be the sole runner in the race for the trainer, who will be attempting to win the race for a record-extending ninth time, after his stablemates Point Lonsdale (Australia) and Tower Of London (Galileo) were both taken out at the final declaration stage. With Ryan Moore taking the ride on Kyprios, Colin Keane will be on board the Willie Mullins-trained Vauban , the beaten favourite in last year’s Melbourne Cup.
Ascot racecourse and Victoria Racing Club sign new strategic partnership
Ascot racecourse and the Victoria Racing Club have signed a new strategic partnership this week, acknowledging the unique ties between the two tracks. The signatories are Ascot chairman and His Majesty’s representative, Sir Francis Brooke, and Neil Wilson, chairman of the VRC. Both courses stage their nations’ premier flat meetings and they work together on various race planning initiatives, which have led to multiple runners in the Royal Ascot sprints from Australia and numerous runners in the Melbourne Cup (Gr 1, 3200m) and other feature races at Flemington from the UK. “At the start of one of the world’s most prestigious racing events, we are pleased to continue the official partnership between the Victoria Racing Club and Ascot,” Wilson said.