Aussie ace Henry Dwyer is pinning his hopes on the return of the blinkers to get his wonder mare Asfoora back in the winners enclosure on British shores. Dwyer made the voyage with Asfoora in 2024, and she duly obliged when taking the King Charles III Stakes in style.
Asfoora returned to her native Australia with success in Group 3 company, before returning here with a fifth last season. She remained in excellent form, winning the Nunthorpe and Prix de l’Abbaye. However, having spent the winter here at Lemos De Souza’s yard, she is now on a retrieval mission.
Asfoora won’t be the only Dwyer representative, as the self-proclaimed adopted Brit has been granted a BHA license. As such Asfoora will be joined by two others.
Dwyer told the Press Association, via At The Races: “We thought we’d expand the operation a little bit. As well as Asfoora we’ve a couple of other horses we’ve purchased over here that will give us a bit more fun throughout the week.
“In their infinite wisdom the BHA have given me a training licence. Hopefully every year now we can pick up a few horses and spin them round before we can take them back to Australia. You could say I’m an adopted Brit now, you’re not getting rid of me.
“In honesty I’ll only really be here over the summer months and poke around with a few horses. Enjoy a bit of travel which is something you miss out on as a racehorse trainer, so hopefully it will be good.”
Dwyer keeping the faith with Asfoora
The absence of the blinkers in Asfoora’s two runs thus far have seen her run below her usual best. But everything will have led up to Tuesday’s sprint prize, and she cannot be written off now the headgear returns.
Dwyer continued: “We’re putting the blinkers back on. If you look at the horse and watch her work and keep the faith then you would have to be confident. But you do need to have that faith to get over those two runs so far.”
Henry Dwyer will saddle two more runners at the Royal meeting, including Pontefract maiden third Kochella in the Albany Stakes. It will be a significant rise in class, and Dwyer was more confident in Synners Kid, in the Britannia Stakes.
“He’s a lovely little horse and he’s going to be a fun horse back in Australia” said Dwyer. “He’ll go back there with a really competitive rating and will suit our conditions.”