Oisin Murphy believes Asfoora is capable of confirming her position as one of the leading sprinters around by adding more Group One glory to her glittering CV this year.
The five-time champion Flat jockey partnered the triple Group One scorer for the first time this year in an early morning racecourse gallop at Newmarket on Thursday.
Working over five furlongs, the Henry Dwyer-trained daughter of Flying Artie appeared to handle the undulations of the Rowley Mile before finishing upsides her lead horse.
And following the exercise Murphy, who steered Asfoora to glory in the 2024 King Charles II Stakes at Royal Ascot and last year’s Coolmore Wootton Bassett Nunthorpe Stakes at York and the Prix de l’Abbaye at Longchamp, admitted he is excited about the season ahead.
Murphy said: “She went over five furlongs on the racecourse proper. It was her first bit of work of the year and she looked great.
“She was fine on the track today. It was all pretty easy stuff, but she seemed pretty good out there.
“She was brilliant last year in winning the Nunthorpe and then the Abbaye. They were two great days I had on her so let’s see what she can do this year.
“She is moving great and she is behaving like she wants it. If she is in the same health she can win another big one as she was top class last year on the two days I wanted her most.”
Unlike in previous years, Asfoora has stayed in Britain over the winter as opposed to shuttling back to Australia having spent time at Fittocks Stud before transferring to the yard of Newmarket trainer Lemos De Souza, something which Murphy feels was a positive move.
🌟 Australian sprinting star ASFOORA (red cap) on the Newmarket gallops this morning.
— Sporting Life Racing (@SportingLife) April 23, 2026
💬 @OisMurphy : “She's moving great and she is behaving like she wants it."
She could start in the Palace House or Temple Stakes, as prep for the King Charles III at Royal Ascot. @HDwyerRacing pic.twitter.com/ZJslerg4Xi
Murphy added: “She stayed here this winter so you can see she is more forward in her coat, but she is gorgeous.
“I think it will have been easier for her staying over here than having to undergo all that travelling like what she has done and you can see that as she is much more forward in her skin.”
The first major target Asfoora will have on her agenda is trying to regain her crown in the King Charles III Stakes at Royal Ascot.
However, Murphy has warned she is likely to be in need of her comeback run, which could come in either the Group Three HKJC World Pool Palace House Stakes at Newmarket on Saturday week or the Group Two Temple Stakes at Haydock Park on May 23rd
He added: “I don’t know if she will definitely run in the Palace House Stakes as there is the Temple Stakes as well, but she might do both then go to Ascot.
“I imagine her first Group One target will be the King Charles III Stakes at Royal Ascot which she has run in the past two years.
“Wherever she goes first though, whether that is Newmarket or Haydock Park, she will probably need her first race.”
More from Sporting Life
- Racecards
- Fast results
- Full results and free video replays
- Horse racing news
- Horse racing tips
- Horse racing features
- Download our free iOS and Android app
- Football and other sports tips
- Podcasts and video content
Safer gambling
We are committed in our support of safer gambling. Recommended bets are advised to over-18s and we strongly encourage readers to wager only what they can afford to lose.
If you are concerned about your gambling, please call the National Gambling Helpline / GamCare on 0808 8020 133.
Further support and information can be found at begambleaware.org and gamblingtherapy.org.
