Asfoora Gallant in Defeat at Glorious Goodwood

Tara Madgwick - Saturday August 3

Australian sprint queen Asfoora ran another super race at Goodwood overnight in the Group II King George Stakes (5f) with a 5lb penalty for her last start Group I victory proving the catalyst for three year-old Blue Point colt Big Evs to be able to turn the tables on the daughter of Flying Artie.

Big Evs was third to Asfoora at Royal Ascot in the King Charles III Stakes, but this time the Mick Appleby trained colt was not for catching and held on to win by a neck for Tom Marquand over the late closing Asfoora.

 

“Big Evs is one in a million and the best I've trained by a long way. It's unbelievable to think of this where I was 15 years ago. I would say it'll be to York, then Breeders' Cup, then off to stud,” said Appleby.

Bred by Rabbah Bloodstock, Big Evs was a 50,000 guinea purchase from the Tattersalls October Book 2 Yearling Sale for Michael Cleere and runs for RP Racing with his overall record now six wins and two placings from nine starts.

Henry Dwyer was delighted with Asfoora even in defeat and is already placing for her next assignment which is likely the Group I Nunthorpe Stakes (5f) at York on August 23.

“Asfoora has gone as well as we could have hoped and we're very proud of her. You could just tell about 400 metres after the start she just came off the bridle. She's quick but they were a bit quick for her early,” said Dwyer.

“Big Evs controlled his own destiny whereas we were stuck behind a couple and got a bit of a bump which probably cost us the win but she's run well and we're more than happy just to be competing.”

A Group I winner last season of the Breeders Cup Juvenile Turf, Big Evs is the best of five winners from Hana Lina, a placed half-sister to Group III winner Lady of the Desert (dam of Group II winner Queen Kindly) from Group I winner Queen’s Logic. It’s a top class family that also features European Horse of the Year Dylan Thomas and Group I winners Homecoming Queen, Shale and Serpentine.

The sires of both Big Evs and Asfoora are standing in Victoria this year with Blue Point (IRE) shuttling to Darley at a fee of $44,000, while Flying Arties stands at Blue Gum Farm at a fee of $16,500.

Advertisment
More Reading...
Flying Artie's Asfoora Dominates Caulfield Sprint
The lightly raced Flying Artie mare Asfoora turned a competitive Group II Caulfield Sprint (1000m) into a two and three-quarter length romp.
Million-dollar Hour for Leung at NZB Ready To Run
Hong Kong bloodstock agent Willie Leung had a big hour at Karaka early on Thursday afternoon, spending more than $1 million to secure two well-credentialled colts at the NZB Ready to Run Sale.
Castelvecchio Out for Remainder of Season
Aeliana’s late charge into second place in the $1.5million Group I MRC Thousand Guineas last Saturday stamped her as the filly to follow out of the race, but it wasn’t quite enough to put her sire Castelvecchio to the top of the second season sires list and he is now out of service at Arrowfield following surgery last week.
Arkansaw Kid Brother Sells for $520,000
A well-related son of Harry Angel provided a late highlight in the final hour of the 2024 NZB Ready to Run Sale at Karaka on Thursday when he was knocked down to a $520,000 bid from bloodstock agent Morgan Carter.
Flying Artie Mare Wins G3 Furphy Sprint
Lightly raced Flying Artie mare Asfoora continued on her winning way at Flemington on Derby Day closing out the program with a popular win in the Group III VRC Furphy Sprint (1100m) as favourite.
Group 1 Moir Stakes Next for Flying Artie's Asfoora
The decision to stay clear of Giga Kick paid off the connections of Asfoora after the quality daughter of Flying Artie made a winning return in Saturday's Listed The McCafe 1100 Stakes at Caulfield.
Blockbuster Sale as NZB Ready to Run Records Tumble
Expectations were exceeded at Karaka with tremendous results witnessed across two days of selling at NZB’S 2024 Ready to Run Sale, confirming the demand for proven racetrack results and quality New Zealand-prepared horses.
Churchill Colt Pulls Off Stunning Pinhooking Result at NZB Ready To Run
Chad Ormsby has enjoyed plenty of racetrack success this year with pinhooks that he has been unable to sell at the Ready to Run Sale, but the multi-talented horseman had a very different outcome with the standout member of his 2024 Riverrock Farm draft at Karaka on Thursday.
Vale, Danny Champion
The thoroughbred racing industry is in mourning following the passing of respected horseman Danny Champion.
City of Troy Crowned 2024 Cartier European Horse of the Year
Outstanding Justify colt City of Troy was crowned Horse of the Year at the 2024 Cartier awards on Wednesday night in London at a star studded ceremony at the Dorchester Hotel.