A planned attack on a short-course sprint at Caulfield on their biggest day of the year has paid dividends for the connections of Asfoora.
Henry Dwyer planned an assault on Saturday’s Group 2 Caulfield Sprint (1000m) from the time the daughter of Flying Artie headed to the spelling paddock to conclude her first campaign.
With Jye Mcneil replacing regular rider Mitch Aitken, Asfoora ($4.20) led throughout in scoring a 2-¾ length win from Kallos ($7) with the $3.80 favourite Generation a further 1-¼ lengths away third.
Asfoora won her first three starts before running third at stakes level to wind-up her first campaign and returned in a midweek meeting at Sandown to record an impressive win.
She was then sent out an odds-on favourite when out of the money at Moonee Valley but was a victim of not being able to find the lead.
Asfoora was able to comfortably find the front and control Saturday’s race to give Dwyer his second win in the race having scored with Snitty Kitty in 2017.
“We’ve been up in Ballarat for two years now,” Dwyer said.
“I know we’ve had a Group 2, might have won a Group 3, but she is certainly the best horse I’ve saddled up for a very long time and is reminiscent of Snitty Kitty who won this race a few years ago.
“It’s been a really long-range plan, pretty much since she went to the paddock last preparation, but it hasn’t been completely smooth sailing.
“There have been a few road bumps along the way, but all’s well that ends well.”
Dwyer explained Aitken had a sore hand but would have struggled to make Asfoora’s weight of 53kg on Saturday.
However, Dwyer was highly appreciative of Aitken’s input into the early preparation of Asfoora.
“Full credit to Mitch,” Dwyer said.
“The places we’re going with her, she’s going to get in with light weights.
“We’re going to have a crack at the Oakleigh Plate and those sorts of races so Mitch was very good to us, and he’ll be back on her at some stage.”
