Oisin Murphy more confident than trainer about Aussie's Royal Ascot repeat

Daily Mirror

3 days ago

The champion jockey will be back aboard Asfoora when she bids to win a second King Charles III Stakes for trainer Henry Dwyer at next week's royal meeting
Champion jockey Oisin Murphy is more confident than trainer Henry Dwyer that Asfoora can land another top Royal Ascot sprint for Australia.
Since Choisir triumphed in 2003 Australian speedsters have taken their King Charles III Stakes score to six. Asfoora, whose owner Akram El-Fahkri was raised on a farm in Lebananon and runs a Melbourne taxi firm, kept the sequence going 12 months ago when she defeated Regional and Big Evs in the 5f feature on her first start with Murphy in the saddle.
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Trainer Henry Dwyer is putting the finishing touches to the six-year-old mare's challenge in Newmarket where 'she has sparked up' since completing a 40-hour trip.
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'Oisin galloped her on Monday on the July Course,' said Dwyer. 'She had a lead horse and they went an easy furlong from the five to the four before running a really sharp 600 metres in around 33 seconds.
'She was steaming through the line with the blinkers on and pulled up like she had not had a gallop, so I think her fitness is good. She seems in a good place and Oisin is very confident, probably more than me, but I hope he is right!'
Dwyer famously tipped Asfoora to the King when introduced to him in the parade ring before last year's big race.
Reflecting on the occasion, he said: 'It was completely bonkers, just madness. I was very nervous before the race as it was the biggest day of my racing life. I have 40 horses in work and have won a couple of Group 1 races, but that whole thing of travelling a horse, the risk versus reward scenario, it was a lot of pressure.
'It was more relief when she ran well. I didn't care if she won or lost as long as she didn't embarrass herself or us.
'We were stood in the grandstand and, when she came past us and was clearly going to win, that was the last I saw of the race as I had 30 people jumping on top of me, cheering. I still don't think it has sunk in.
'I feel like we have less pressure this year as we have been there and done it. If she had not won last year, there would be more pressure as it is an expensive trip with huge costs involved, in terms of staffing and flights.
"That is pressure, spending someone else's money, but luckily she was able to repay us and the owner last year. This year, that money is already in the bank, so she owes us nothing."