Asfoora came up less than a length short in her quest for a maiden Group 1 in last month’s Oakleigh Plate, but Henry Dwyer is optimistic she can go a couple of spots better in this Saturday’s The Galaxy.
The daughter of Flying Artie will be one of the leading fancies for the $1 million Group 1 handicap over 1100 metres at Rosehill.
Asfoora will renew hostilities with Oakleigh Plate hero Uncommon James, but with just 51.5kg.
That is 1.5kg less than she carried in the 1100m Oakleigh Plate, meaning she meets Uncommon James 2.5kg better, and gets 7.5kg off topweight Eduardo.
That weight advantage, the four-year-old’s demeanour since the Oakleigh Plate and how she has embraced working right-handed has the Ballarat trainer eager to get to Sydney.
“She was quite forward going into the Oakleigh Plate, we aimed to win first-up, and we didn’t quite get the job done but you’d think given she’s come through it well she’d have to be a little bit further forward,” Dwyer said.
“She had a gallop the reverse way on Tuesday morning and all seems really good.
“We’ve just ticked her over and the truck trip up on Thursday night will take a little bit more out of her, so she’ll turn up on Saturday in good order.”
Dwyer was further buoyed by Lofty Strike’s second pacing in last Saturday’s Newmarket Handicap, when beaten a length by star filly In Secret.
Lofty Strike finished second in the Oakleigh Plate, three-quarters-of-a-length behind Uncommon James and just a head in advance of Asfoora.
“I guess that franks the form a bit,” Dwyer said.
Asfoora has drawn barrier five in the 13-horse The Galaxy, in which she will be ridden by Jye Mcneil.
