 |
|
| Staff Writer |
 |
Asfoora's preparation for defending her King Charles III Stakes crown at Royal Ascot has been compromised by flight availability issues, forcing trainer Henry Dwyer to completely restructure his original campaign plans.
The headline-making racemare participated in a 900-metre trial at Flemington on Friday morning, finishing level with Winnasedge in what Dwyer described as a crucial fitness test ahead of her European mission.
Last year's preparation followed a different timeline, with Asfoora competing in the Gr.2 Temple Stakes at Haydock before her Royal Ascot triumph. However, limited flight options following her seventh-place finish in the Gr.1 Robert Sangster Stakes at Morphettville have forced significant adjustments.
"In our mind we had her there straight after the Sangster," Dwyer explained. "We thought we would have been able to get a flight in the first week of May, and given that, it would have been a far better scenario than what we are faced with. But you can't swim there, you can't catch a train, you have to catch a plane, so this is the way it has worked out."
The mare's departure has been scheduled for next Thursday, requiring a circuitous route via Sydney before the final journey to the UK. Dwyer calculated the door-to-door journey from Sydney as a gruelling 38 to 40-hour expedition, with Asfoora travelling by float to Sydney before the international flight and subsequent transport to Newmarket.
"The plane is next Thursday. It's a bit of a trek having to go via Sydney, so that's another frustration, but it's only frustrating because I'm thinking of the mare. We'll make the best of it," Dwyer acknowledged.
The compressed timeframe contrasts sharply with last year's preparation, when the team enjoyed considerably more flexibility following Asfoora's arrival in Britain.
Friday's trial served multiple purposes in Dwyer's revised preparation strategy, providing essential race sharpness after a four-week gap since the Robert Sangster Stakes.
"We needed to come here and have a solid enough hit-out having not raced for four weeks since the Sangster and it is now three weeks before Royal Ascot," Dwyer noted. "We were in a tricky position where we needed to freshen up after what I thought was a bit of a flat run after having a busy time before it."
The trainer implemented a strategic break following the Morphettville disappointment before building towards Friday's crucial workout.
"She had a week or 10 days of doing nothing and then the build-up to this trial which we've used as a quasi-race to get one in the bank before she goes over," Dwyer explained.
Oisin Murphy, who partnered Asfoora to Royal Ascot glory twelve months ago, remains committed to renewing their partnership despite various retainer obligations in Britain.
"He's on retainers with various owners over there and if they've got a horse in the race, his hands are tied," Dwyer observed. "But he feels there's not much going on in the five-furlong division from his perspective and he's pretty happy to ride her."
The combination will face minimal track preparation time upon arrival, with Dwyer anticipating just one gallop opportunity before the King Charles III Stakes.