Abbaye bid for Asfoora sees Henry Dwyer still ‘living the dream’

Asfoora looks to end this year’s European odyssey with victory in the Prix de l’Abbaye de Longchamp Longines on Sunday – before remaining in Britain over the winter.

The Antipodean ace will breach new ground for trainer Henry Candy when representing Australia in the big sprint on Arc day, and he is hopeful she has one final big performance left in the tank in a season which saw her add to last year’s thrilling Royal Ascot triumph when blitzing her way to Nunthorpe glory in August.

“A runner on Arc day doesn’t happen much for an Australian and has never been done successfully so it would be nice to change that,” said Dwyer.

“She’s been good since the Curragh and all we can do is hope the rain doesn’t come because other than that all the ducks seem to be in a row – she looks to have drawn well close to the rail (in three) and I think she’s as good as she’s ever been and looks as good as ever.

“I think we’ve only seen her in suitable conditions once this summer, which is mad when you consider how dry it has been. Ascot was dry, but she wasn’t ready, and at Goodwood and in Ireland it wasn’t her ground. But at York when everything was perfect she won pretty easily and I see no reason why that can’t happen again if the we don’t get too much rain.

“I haven’t been to Paris for 20 years since I was 21 and backpacking so it’s a little bit different this time, but we’re living the dream.”

Although this will be Asfoora’s final start of her second season competing in Europe, Candy confirmed she will make her temporary residence in Newmarket permanent to continue her popular presence on the European sprinting scene next season.

“The plan at this stage is to leave her in England over the winter and if she does that she can start earlier next season and run in races like the Palace House and the Haydock races,” continued Dwyer.

“We’ll be trying to go to Royal Ascot again and maybe even try a July Cup longer term and there’s plenty of options which is why we’re still here rather than back home.

“Her owner is keen to keep the ball rolling and her career at stud can happen at any time, so why not keep going.”

Fourth to Asfoora at York, but ahead of the Australian challenger when they last met on the Curragh is Karl Burke’s Night Raider who after a series of fine efforts in the major sprint races this term is now tried in first-time cheekpieces to aid his cause at a track envisaged to suit.

“He’s a horse I’ve got a lot of faith in but we just wonder if he’s concentrating in the last half a furlong or so,” said Richard Brown, racing adviser to owners Wathnan Racing.

“Karl tried him in a pair of cheekpieces earlier in the week and he went very well in them so he’s going to run in first-time cheekpieces which will hopefully help James (Doyle) at the back end of the race.

“This is a fast five and a much faster five furlongs than the Curragh and I’m hoping he can run a big race.”

There has been no horse more consistent this term without winning than Jack Davison’s She’s Quality and connections are hoping for a fitting finish to their pleasing campaign that has seen the four-year-old finish second on four occasions.

Davison said: “We’re looking forward to Sunday and even though she hasn’t got the win yet, it’s been a great season for her.

“It’s nice to have a live contender in the Abbaye and she’s got a good draw I’m really happy with.

“Let’s hope for some luck in running and we’re going there to hopefully cap what has been a brilliant season for her.”

Last year’s winning trainer Ed Walker is represented by Mgheera, while the team of John and Sean Quinn have fond memories of this race and saddle Goodwood’s King George Stakes winner Jm Jungle looking to recreate the Parisian heroics of Highfield Princess in 2023.

Further British interest comes from William Knight’s Frost at Dawn, with William Haggas saddling both recent Newbury scorer First Instinct and Sky Majesty.

Sean Graham, racing manager for the latter’s co-owner Tony Bloom, said: “The softer the ground the better for her and her best run as a two-year-old was when she won at Chantilly on bottomless ground.

“She certainly won’t disgrace herself and she ran well for a long way in the Sprint Cup at Haydock. She’s only a three-year-old and Tom (Marquand) said some of the bigger sprinters bumped her a few times during the race which unsettled her a little bit.

“She’s still young and still learning and I’m sure she will be kept in training next year, but it will be interesting to see how she gets on.”