By Daniel Harrold
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In an incredible feat of training from Henry Dwyer, the remarkable Asfoora (7 m Flying Artie – Golden Child by I Am Invincible) made further history on Sunday as she became the first Australian-trained horse to win in France when readily landing the Prix de l’Aabaye (Gr 1, 1000m) at Longchamp.
Having scored in the Nunthorpe Stakes (Gr 1, 5f) at York back in August, adding to her win in last year’s King Charles III Stakes (Gr 1, 5f) at Royal Ascot, the seven-year-old mare was strongly supported to add Sunday’s 1000-metre Group 1 to her burgeoning CV.
Ridden by her usual northern hemisphere partner Oisin Murphy, the daughter of Flying Artie (Artie Schiller) had a good draw in barrier three and made use of that as she tracked the early pace.
Travelling best of all approaching the final furlong, Asfoora was eased out by Murphy and swept to the lead inside the closing stages to defeat Jawwal (Wooded) by a comfortable half-length.
There was a further two and a half lengths back to She’s Quality (Acclamation), who is part-owned by Aristia Park, in third place.
The race may have been plain sailing for Asfoora, however Dwyer revealed the pre-race build-up was anything but, with the Asfoora team having had passport problems and in real danger of their mare being scratched.
“Just surreal really, we’ve had a couple of pre-race issues that we’ve had to work through,” Dwyer said, referencing the fact that Asfoora’s passport was delivered from Chantilly to Longchamp with mere seconds to spare.
“We were within about a minute and a half of actually not running. I had an Uber driver on a retainer of about £200 to get the passport here on time!
“It’s amazing, since we started this whole journey it has been all about doing new things and racing is experiential, life is experiential so we’ve tried to experience new things. I’d never been to a race in France and here we are now winning a race on Arc day.
“We were confident that it was fresh new ground and we were hopeful that she’d handle that and that she’d be ok, and as it turns out she was.”
Murphy, who has struck up a brilliant partnership with the high-flying mare having ridden her for all three of her European Group 1 wins, said: “She was fantastic. The sprint course is a fair bit drier than the round course and it was obviously a fresh track. She was basically on the bridle throughout and I didn’t have to ask her for much.
“She was fortunate to get a plum draw but her condition was really the best it has been. She still has her coat and that has taken some management.”
Asked about the relationship between himself and Asfoora, Murphy added: “She used to be a bit naughty in the stalls and now she isn’t, she used to be on her toes in the preliminaries and now she’s not, so I suppose if the rider is quiet and relaxed then the horse will be.”
Akram El-Fahkri, who runs Asfoora under the banner of his stud Noor Elaine Farm, was also on hand to provide a glowing assessment of his record-breaking mare.
“That’s correct [she is the first to win in France], but let me say that Black Caviar was an outstanding mare and incomparable,” El-Fahkri said.
“However, our mare is also incompatible. There won’t be another mare outside of Europe to win all three of these big sprints for a very, very long time.
“The people can give her credit or not, but for me she’s true centrefold material.”
On the next move with Asfoora, the owner said: “I will take Henry’s advice and it seems sensible that she has a rest. Let me have a chat with Henry but it may be worthwhile keeping her in the northern hemisphere.
“She’s a darling and she deserves what she has achieved and she never puts in a bad run.”
Meanwhile, as well as celebrating even more success with his star mare on the track, Ballarat-based Dwyer had also been on hand at Saturday evening’s Arqana Arc Sale where he purchased Listed winner Grecian Destiny (Masar) for €200,000 (approx. AU$355,460).
“We’ve bought a nice horse that I thought was pretty undervalued to be fair,” Dwyer told ANZ News.
“He’s made seven starts for three wins and three placings and an unlucky run the other time.
“He is a pretty progressive horse that will go to Australia with a rating in the high 80’s I’d say so we should have a little bit of wiggle room there.
“He’ll go into quarantine in the next couple of weeks and then head back to Australia when we can where he will have a nice break and hopefully have him out in the autumn and winter next year. I’m very happy to have him.”