‘Door ajar’ for Asfoora to have one more shot at the Nunthorpe

Henry Dwyer raised the possibility of Asfoora having one last dance in the Coolmore Nunthorpe after she ran her best race of the season so far in the King George Qatar Stakes at Goodwood.

The Australian speedster has made Britain her home for large parts of the last three years, winning the King Charles III Stakes at Royal Ascot in 2024 and last season completing a major sprint double with victories in the Nunthorpe at York and the Prix de l’Abbaye at ParisLongchamp.

Her first four efforts of the current campaign have suggested her best days were behind her, most recently trailing home last in the Coral Charge at Sandown four weeks ago, and she was next week set to enter quarantine before returning to her homeland to prepare for her second career as a broodmare.

However, having showed plenty of her old spark on the Sussex Downs under Oisin Murphy – hitting the front entering the final furlong before being mowed down late and passing the post in fourth place – Dwyer would now love to see his star mare defend her title on the Knavesmire if owner Akram El-Fahkri is willing.

“I’m incredibly proud that we’ve been able to keep her up for so long. She’s a seven-year-old mare, she’s had a fair bit of racing and a lot of travel. As a horse trainer you can only judge yourself on the performance of your animals and she’s made us incredibly proud,” said Dwyer.

“I don’t normally get too excited but I had the left foot stomping there! Oisin just felt she got left without a bunny for too long – she was left by herself probably 100 metres too early and that probably told in the last 50 metres.

“You just need so much to go right in these five-furlong sprints. They’re only out there for 54 or 55 seconds and if you don’t get the right rub of the green then you struggle.

“I’m incredibly tempted (by York), but I don’t think it’s my decision. I’ll make a phone call to Akram and at the end of the day it’s his money and his horse.

“He can decide to do what he wants and I won’t advise him either way, but off today you’d think there’s no reason not to go – the door is ajar.”

Jonathan Portman’s Rumstar won the Coral Charge for the second year running at the start of July and came close to bagging a first win at Group Two level, finishing a half-length second to Jim Goldie’s American Affair.

Portman, who confirmed his charge is also bound for the Nunthorpe next, said: “I am super, super proud. He has run an absolute cracker.

“He thought he had won, we hoped he had won, but the main thing is that he’s turned up and run his race.

“He was just caught out a bit by the sharp track. Rob (Hornby) rode a very mature race on him and took his time.

“He’s getting on a bit this horse, but he’s a joy to have, he owes us nothing, he’s won four Group races and a Listed race and now he’s been second in a Group Two – and it won’t stop us trying to win a Group One.”

Time For Sandals was just a neck further behind in third for Harry Eustace and Kieran Shoemark.

“It was important to see her hit the line like that and connections are delighted,” said the rider.

“She hasn’t run a race this year at all, so to see her bounce like that is great and she seemed far more herself. The freshness is out of her and she was very manageable today.

“Everything went right and she relaxed and hit the line strong, but it’s such a fast five furlongs here you probably can’t move soon enough.”