Asfoora creates history in France with third Group 1
Passport panic averted, performance delivered: Asfoora shrugged off pre-race drama to snare the Group 1 Prix de l’Abbaye at Longchamp, etching her name as the first Australian-trained winner on French soil.
“Unfortunately, her ID and passport didn’t make her way down from Chantilly to the races today,” travelling foreman Simon Morrish told At The Races pre-race.
“We were alerted to that fact as soon as we arrived here. The passport, as we speak, is in an Uber on the way to the track.
“If it gets here in the next five to 10 minutes, we’re OK... otherwise, unfortunately we won’t be running.”
They arrived with seconds to spare, and the seven-year-old mare did the rest—smothered up early in the 17-horse, 1000m burn before Oisin Murphy angled her out and surged past Jawwal to win by a half length.
The victory complements her season’s earlier Group 1 triumph in the Nunthorpe Stakes (1005m) at York and extends a European campaign that began with top-flight success at Royal Ascot last year.
“The dumb Australians forgot to pack the passport, unfortunately, so we had a bit of an issue,” Dwyer said.
“But we had an Uber driver do a mad dash from Chantilly with the passport and he got here with a minute-and-a-half to spare, so it could have been a very different tale.”
“It means a whole lot, obviously,” Dwyer said.
“We came over at the start of last year to England (and) we were trying to chart some new things.
“A lot of Australian horses come over in the European summer for Royal Ascot but not too many continue the preparation, which is what we wanted to do last year, and we fully intended to go for the ‘Abbaye’.
“We just thought she came to the end of it when she ran poorly at York. This year we held her back a little bit and wanted to get her to Ireland and France. The ground didn’t go in our favour in Ireland, but she was able to cope with it today.”
Having a flutter on the Prix de l’Abbaye? Check the best betting sites, popular betting apps and leading Aussie bookmakers first.
More Racing News
Cavalry Girl eyes Moir Stakes repeat of history
History favours Cavalry Girl as she prepares to extend her winning sequence in the Group 1 Moir Stakes.Since the Moir Stakes was rescheduled to an early September date in 2024, both subsequent champions, Baraqiel and Mornington Glory, had achieved victory in the Carlyon Stakes (1000m) beforehand.Cavalry Girl captured the Carlyon...
Sandown Stakes race sees Maher fillies renew rivalry
The Ciaron Maher stable recently secured a top four finish in a maiden race held at Sandown.Two of the horses from that race are now set to compete in a Stakes race at Sandown, aiming to continue the successful run for the Maher stable.Saintly Dancer and Ghana's Akan, who finished...
Thebudgiesmugla seeks to maintain perfect distance record
A prominent contender in metropolitan races, Thebudgiesmugla has an impeccable record of five wins from five starts over 2400 metres and is aiming to extend this streak to six in the Drinkwise Cup at Randwick.This six-year-old gelding was one of the notable performers of the off-season, achieving victory in three...
Blind Raise commences Caulfield Guineas pursuit at Sandown
The connections of Blind Raise harbour aspirations for the colt to be a prominent contender in upcoming spring features, with his campaign set to commence at Sandown.The colt is slated to run in the Listed McKenzie Stakes (1300m) on Saturday, a race that could potentially lead to a Group 1...
Green Spaces on track for spring success after Derby win
Despite being the early favourite for the Caulfield Cup and expected to excel at longer distances, jockey Rachel King believes Green Spaces has the potential to surprise in the Chelmsford Stakes at Randwick.The Australian Derby winner showed a good late surge when finishing eighth in the Winx Stakes (1400m) last...
Edmonds confident Extragalactic is primed for Moir Stakes
The journey for Group 1 honours for Extragalactic begins this Saturday in the $750,000 Moir Stakes at Sandown.Trainer Trent Edmonds, based in Pakenham, is set to unveil the four-year-old mare for the first time since her narrow defeat by a nose to Desert Lightning in The Goodwood, a 1000-metre weight-for-age...
Spring ambitions kick-off at Sandown for Zambardo
The Mick Price and Michael Kent Jnr stable holds considerable expectations for Zambardo, while also conceding the horse must reach new heights.With nominations for both the Cox Plate and Caulfield Cup, Zambardo commences his campaign in the So You Think Stakes (1500m) at Sandown on Saturday.Zambardo is a lightly raced...
El Castello's Tramway Stakes bid begins with a clean slate
John Thompson expresses satisfaction in commencing El Castello's latest racing campaign with a fresh perspective, maintaining a quiet confidence that the Group 1 victor still possesses untapped talent.The path for the connections of the five-year-old has presented considerable challenges. He distinguished himself as a standout performer of his era by...
Amenable looks to end winless streak in Chautauqua Stakes
Amenable is aiming to break a considerable drought without a win as he makes his debut for Grahame Begg at Sandown.The gelding, previously trained by Mick Price and Michael Kent Jnr, is set to compete in the Group 3 Chautauqua Stakes over 1300 metres on Saturday, having been sidelined for...
Geegees Mistruth readies for Group 1 Moir Stakes challenge
The Mark Walker stable is looking forward to the Moir Stakes at Sandown, with Geegees Mistruth set to make her mark.This 1000-metre Group 1 event is being staged at Sandown this year due to ongoing track renovations and a reconfiguration at Moonee Valley.A competitive field of 13 runners is slated...