Asfoora too strong for competition in the 2022 Furphy Sprint

Asfoora ridden by John Allen wins the Furphy Sprint at Flemington Racecourse on October 29, 2022 in Flemington, Australia. (Photo by Brett Holburt/Racing Photos)

Despite the impressive nature of her all-the-way win in the Caulfield Sprint last start, even this morning Henry Dwyer was mulling over whether to run Asfoora in the Furphy Sprint at Flemington.

He need not have worried.

His four-year-old mare was once again very impressive, winning the Group 3 feature over 1100m and worth $200,000 by three-quarters of a length.

“I’ve been looking for reasons why not to run her all week, and why she can’t win and all the negatives,” Dwyer told racing.com, with star jockey John Allen aboard.

“At scratching time at 7.30 this morning, I just thought ‘throw caution to the wind’.

“And just let her be a good horse and let her win.

“She keeps on rolling along, doesn’t she?”

Dwyer now has a headache he’d like to have – whether he will press forward with Asfoora for the Group 1 Oakleigh Plate also over 1100m at Sandown, scheduled for February 25 next year.

2022 Furphy Sprint Race Replay – Asfoora


“Positives and negatives (from Saturday’s win). Obviously, she gets a bit of a penalty there for the Oakleigh Plate,” he said.

“Johnny just said she had a little bit of a look-around late.

“He said she still had a bit of petrol in the tank, but just got the wanders a bit down the straight.

“But I think if we’re going to the Oakleigh Plate and she runs as we expect her to, then you just aim up and run at everything after that.

“The good races are down the straight here. This time next year we might be here.”

Allen was full of praise for the way Dwyer had his in-form mare prepared for Saturday’s assignment.

“It was a good honest effort by the filly; she’s going super. Henry and the team have her flying,” he said.

“Just her attitude and she got into good rhythm. My first time sitting on her and I thought she might be a little more on her toes.

“But luckily she relaxed and did everything right. It was very professional.”

More horse racing news

Related posts