Henry Dwyer has Asfoora in top form as she prepares for the Coolmore Wootton Bassett Nunthorpe Stakes at York. The Royal Ascot winner is continuing her British tour, with her team optimistic about adding to her King Charles III Stakes triumph, especially after her near miss at Goodwood.
Currently based at Amy Murphy’s Southgate Stables in Newmarket, the five-year-old mare is set for one final workout on Monday morning before tackling the Knavesmire sprint.
Dwyer commented, “The footage from her recent gallop looked excellent. All our data suggests she’s performing at her best, and she may have even improved since Goodwood. The travel has settled her down, and she seems more relaxed and efficient in her races.”
Dwyer noted that Asfoora is thriving physically and mentally, eating well and maintaining her condition. He is excited about her upcoming race at York.
At Goodwood, Asfoora finished narrowly behind Mick Appleby’s Big Evs, who turned the Ascot form around for a narrow victory. Despite the defeat, Dwyer remains confident in his filly’s abilities and looks forward to a rematch.
“Goodwood was a challenging race for her with the penalty and the freshening-up period after Ascot,” Dwyer said. “If she had settled a bit better early on, she might have won. On a level track at York, with a good start and the right position, she should be competitive.”
Dwyer also mentioned the positive rivalry with Big Evs and his connections, reflecting on a pleasant catch-up at Goodwood and looking forward to seeing them again at York.