Star mare Asfoora added the Group-2 Schillaci Stakes to her list of feature wins, obliterating her rivals over 1100-metres at Caulfield on Saturday. The race was promoted as a two-horse war between herself and arch rival Uncommon James, and so it was from the jump, the two pairing off several lengths ahead of the rest of the field after travelling two furlongs. Jockey Mitch Aitken had a good hold on his five-year-old throughout, his counterpart travelling strongly on the outside in an attempt to pester and rattle the classy mare. But as the pair turned for home, Aitken edged away from the inside and pinched a length advantage, Uncommon James under the whip as Aitken still cuddled his galloper. Asfoora was shaken up at the 200-metre mark and quickly put four lengths between herself and her competitors, the race shot to bits in a withering burst, her rider sitting up for the photo. The young hoop was all smiles in a post-race interview. “It’s awesome”, he said. “It’s the biggest race of my career and I think she’s got more ahead of her, so it’s pretty exciting”.
Aitken revealed that it was a deliberate plan to race just away from the fence throughout and come right away from the inside on the turn. “I walked the track beforehand and watched the previous races”, he said. “I really wanted that lane, and when we got there, I was quite confident that she was going to hold on”.
Henry was just as pleased with his mare’s recovery as he was the scintillating performance. “She’s pulled up as well as she ever has”, he said. “She’s pulled up terrific – I couldn’t be happier”.
Asfoora’s next target is down the Flemington straight in Cup week, before heading to the paddock for a richly-earnt spell. Henry noted that the Group-1 Oakleigh Plate back at Caulfield is a realistic target in February when she returns, with a mid-winter “jaunt” of Europe on the table for discussion.
Saturday’s win made it two from three this preparation, and brought up win number eight in a dazzling fourteen-start career, as her earnings pushed past the $1.2M mark.