Henry Dwyer remains confident Asfoora can crack it for another European win, despite his star sprinter’s unplaced effort at Goodwood overnight.
Last year’s King Charles III Stakes winner finished seventh in the Group 2 King George Stakes (1005m) won by $15 chance Jm Jungle.
With Oisin Murphy aboard, Asfoora settled towards the rear in the straight-track contest, which was run on soft ground, and made a burst alongside the far-side rail inside the 400m before feeling the pinch late to be beaten 2-1/4 lengths.
Dwyer said the daughter of Flying Artie, who was runner-up in last year’s King George Stakes, would come on from the performance and is hoping for firmer ground in the Group 1 Nunthorpe Stakes (1005m) at York on August 23.
“It was a good run, but she probably just got a bit bogged down in the ground,” Dwyer said.
“Oisin said she felt great and didn’t get beaten by fitness. It is very hard to make up ground today.
“She made up a good bit from the two-furlong (pole) to the one-furlong and then felt the pinch in the last 50 yards.
“We knew she would be up against it. She has run a creditable race, and we have a lot of optimism going forward for races which will suit her more.”
The King George Stakes was Asfoora’s second run in England this preparation following a fifth placing in the King Charles III Stakes at Royal Ascot.
After the Nunthorpe Stakes, Dwyer is considering sending Asfoora to Group 1 The Flying Five (1005m) in Ireland in September or the Group 1 Prix de l’Abbaye (1000m) at Longchamp on Arc De Triomphe weekend in France.
