A narrow miss at Goodwood
Asfoora came close to ending her racing career at Goodwood on Friday, but the beloved sprinter finished fourth in the King George Stakes. The seven-year-old mare was expected to retire after the race and return to Australia for breeding but might still have one more Group One appearance. She showed her usual fighting spirit in the race, running strongly in a tight finish. Asfoora has already claimed victories in three of Europe’s most respected five-furlong contests, including the King Charles III Stakes at Royal Ascot in 2024 and the Nunthorpe Stakes and Prix de l’Abbaye in the previous year. However, her performance this season had been inconsistent before this recent effort. After the race, she was scheduled to enter quarantine in preparation for her return to Australia.
A trainer's dilemma
Henry Dwyer, the trainer of Asfoora, said the race was a close one and that his horse might have been left without a rabbit for too long. Dwyer explained that Oisin Murphy, the jockey, felt Asfoora was left alone too early in the race, which likely affected her performance in the final 50 meters. He was impressed with how she performed and admitted he was tempted to run her again at the Nunthorpe Stakes in September. However, Dwyer acknowledged that the final decision lies with Asfoora’s owner, Akram El-Fahkri. He said he would call El-Fahkri after the race to discuss the options but would not try to influence his decision. Dwyer added that, based on the race, there was no reason not to consider a return to the track. He described the door as "ajar," leaving it open for a final appearance before retirement.
Talk Of New York's surprise loss
Talk Of New York suffered a surprising defeat in the Thoroughbred Stakes, falling to a half-length loss behind Shayem. The odds-on favorite, Talk Of New York had been heavily backed coming into the race and was the shortest-priced entry of the meeting. His early performance had been strong, including a close second in the St James’s Palace Stakes at Royal Ascot last month. However, in this race, he was left too far back in the field by his jockey, William Buick, who found himself unable to close the gap quickly. Talk Of New York struggled to find rhythm on the track and was quickly out of contention as he tried to catch up. Shayem, the second-favorite at 17-2, was much closer to the lead and was able to push past Talk Of New York with ease. The race proved to be a disappointing one for Buick, who admitted the front-running horses had a major advantage.
Clifford Lee, who rode Shayem, was perfectly positioned to capitalize on the opportunity. According to Lee’s trainer, the horse likes the track and has been showing steady improvement. The decision to stretch Shayem to the mile distance turned out to be a smart move, as the horse won comfortably at the finish line. Lee commented that, from halfway through the race, it was clear that Shayem would hold off the challenge from Talk Of New York. While Lee did not place blame on the track, he noted that the front-runners had a key advantage in this race. When questioned about whether Talk Of New York could handle the track, Lee remained fair but suggested that the winner might need to run a longer distance to reach his full potential. Still, he pointed out that Talk Of New York must learn to settle better in the early stages of the race.
Lee emphasized that Talk Of New York's aggressive start might not have been the main cause of his defeat, but the horse needs to be more patient and tactical in future races. Both the winner and Talk Of New York were described as sensible horses, but their different approaches had a significant impact on the final result. Lee acknowledged that while there were challenges for Talk Of New York, there was also a clear advantage for the front-runners. The race provided valuable learning for all involved and could influence future decisions about race strategy and distances.