Henry Dwyer’s star sprinter Asfoora made it six wins from eight starts on Saturday, adding the Group-3 Furphy Sprint to her list of victories this preparation. Jockey John Allen plotted a course several horses off the fence from his inside draw, sitting second but leading the middle division of runners from the 1100-metre chute. The speedy mare had to dig deep after pinching a break at the furlong marker, but was strong to the line and held off her rivals in another classy sprinting display. Trainer Dwyer was impressed with his mare’s first look at the Flemington straight on Derby Day. “It’s a good experience for her. She’ll race down the straight next preparation and the preparation after, so we can tick that box”. The argument can be strongly made that the four-year-old should be unbeaten this campaign, her only defeat coming at The Valley where she found no luck throughout running. However she sandwiched that run with a blistering fresh win at Sandown and a rollicking Caulfield Group-2 triumph, meaning she heads to the paddock with three wins from four starts in an excellent preparation. The daughter of Flying Artie will return for a first-up tilt at the Group-1 Oakleigh Plate to be held at Sandown in February.
