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Aussie sprinter primed for first start on UK soil

Asfoora will become the latest Australian sprinter to try and strike a blow in England when beginning her optimistic European campaign in the Group 2 Temple Stakes at Haydock on Saturday night.

An eight-time winner in Australia, including twice in Group 2 company, Asfoora will face the likes of last year's Nunthorpe hero Live In The Dream and the 2023 Haydock Sprint champion Regional in the 1007m event at the Merseyside venue.

The five-year-old mare, who was also runner-up to Imperatriz in the Group 1 Moir Stakes last spring, was last seen finishing fourth in the Group 1 Galaxy over 1100m at Rosehill in March, and her trainer Henry Dwyer is confident she can be competitive against UK opposition. 

"I've got full respect for the Nunthorpe winner and the Haydock Sprint winner from last year, but I think she'll measure up for sure," Dwyer said at a media call in England overnight.

"It's not a holiday, although I do like a holiday.

"I couldn't be happier with how she looks, how she is in herself, how her work has been and how she's settled in over here.

"If anything, she's more settled here than she is at home. The trip has done here the world of good."

The Temple Stakes kicks off a campaign with Group 1 campaigns down the track, including a second-up run in the Group 1 King Charles III Stakes (formerly King's Stand Stakes) at Royal Ascot.

"We've got a pretty ambitious summer planned; we're not here for a haircut, we're here to win races," he said.

"She can kick off at Haydock, go to Ascot, then there's six weeks to Glorious Goodwood if we want to do that, which we do.

"Then you've got a break until the Nunthorpe and if you're still standing by then you can potentially go to the Curragh for the Flying Five or to France for the l'Abbaye."

Mitchell Aitken, Asfoora's regular rider in Australia, has flown over to take the mount, something Dwyer felt vital for the beginning of her preparation in the UK.

"We'll be looking for a Northern Hemisphere jockey to ride but I just thought Mitch was really important to have here for her first start," the Ballarat trainer said.

"Just with the little idiosyncrasies she's got and different things over here with the barriers.

"It will be a good thrill for Mitch and a good experience for him, but we'll be keen to get a European jockey after that."

The Temple Stakes is Race 2 on the Haydock card and will be run at 10.50pm AEST.