Asfoora carrying plenty of stable confidence for second crack at Goodwood sprint

Australian sprinter Asfoora is back at Goodwood seeking revenge after last year’s narrow defeat, with a wide-open field set to challenge her in the King George Qatar Stakes.

Asfoora Seeks Redemption After Near Miss in 2023

Henry Dwyer is confident Australian ace Asfoora is in the perfect place to secure King George Qatar Stakes redemption after being agonisingly denied at the Qatar Goodwood Festival 12 months ago.

The Antipodean speedster stuck around on British soil after her famous Royal Ascot win in the King Charles III Stakes last year and although out of luck at this year’s Royal meeting, her team are confident of bettering last year’s short-head defeat on Friday.

Dwyer said: “The conditions of the race are a lot more suitable this year and she has a bit less weight without the Group One penalty she had last year...”

“So I think the race sets up well for us, it’s just a case of whether she can find her best and if she finds it, I think she goes very close to winning and if she’s for some reason a length or two below her best, I still think she will still be right there.

“She’s nice and relaxed again after Ascot and we gave her two weeks out in the paddock after that to help her settle in a bit more and she seems in a good space.

“I think there’s definitely more to come... and hopefully she is in very good shape for this race.”

Big Mojo, Time For Sandals and Others Join Wide-Open Field

It was Mick Appleby’s Big Evs who denied Asfoora in this last year and the Rutland handler, who has formed a great friendship with his Australian counterpart, looks to be a thorn in Dwyer’s side once again with July Stakes runner-up and course and distance scorer Big Mojo

Appleby said: “He’s in great order and hopefully we can go and win the race again.”

“He’s got plenty of pace and I think at Goodwood it will definitely suit him dropping back to five furlongs... Asfoora is probably the one to beat, but I think we will be thereabouts anyway.”

Joining Big Mojo in reverting back to five furlongs is Time For Sandals, part of Harry Eustace’s memorable Royal Ascot double.

Eustace said: “The big question mark is obviously going back to a sharp five for her having won over a stiff six at Ascot.

“Personally, I don’t think it will be a problem... but if we’re going to find her out this year it will be in this race.”

“He’s in great order and hopefully we can go and win the race again.”

Mick Appleby

Also in the mix is Karl Burke’s Night Raider expected to excel at one of the fastest five-furlong tracks in the country.

Richard Brown, racing adviser for owners Wathnan Racing, said: “He’s very fast and Goodwood is a very quick five as we know... I do think this will be right up his alley.”

Meanwhile, Ed Walker’s Lowther Stakes winner Celandine is another major contender after battling back from a frustrating setback.

Walker said: “It’s been a very frustrating year with her so far... but she’s back.”

“She didn’t get the kind of easy lead she likes but still battled on well to finish third... I’m not afraid to bring her back to five, so I think she’ll be a danger in a wide-open sprint division.”