Docklands and Asfoora Take to the Grass for Goodwood Prep

[Wandering Eyes]

After Newmarket received a proper drenching on Thursday, Goodwood hopefuls Docklands (Massaat) and Asfoora (Flying Artie) took to the soft turf of the July Course for a spin ahead of their major-race targets next week.

Partnered by Ted Durcan, the five-year-old Docklands, hero of last month's G1 Queen Anne Stakes, looked relaxed both pre- and post-work and had an easy stretch over Newmarket's undulations, making the most of a rare chance in an otherwise dry, hot summer to gallop on grass. 

“It was as much a mental exercise for him as a physical one,” said trainer Harry Eustace. “He's run three or four times now this year and with the way the weather has been until now he's just been on the Al Bahathri [all-weather gallop], but we've been delighted with him and Ted was very happy with him this morning.”

He added of OTI Racing's G1 Qatar Sussex Stakes contender, “He's a dude and that's what has always made our lives very easy, and it makes the jockeys' lives easy as well.”

Eustace gave visiting Australian trainer Henry Dwyer a hand by providing dual-winning sprinter Ancient Times as a lead horse for Asfoora, one of the stars of the previous year's Royal Ascot when winning the G1 King Charles III Stakes. The six-year-old mare was fifth in the same race last month, beaten just two lengths, after arriving in the UK later than she had done in 2024. Asfoora heads next to the G2 King George Qatar Stakes, in which she was beaten a short-head by Big Evs (Blue Point) last season. 

 

Asfoora and Oisin Murphy | Emma Berry

 

After watching his globe-trotter work in partnership with Oisin Murphy, Dwyer said, “We're happy with her. We've kind of had to go backwards before we could go forwards. We gave her two weeks off because she was light and tight and we needed to get 20kg on her. As a result of that, her fitness has gone backwards but she has gone forwards in herself. 

“She's had a good blow and she got away from us a little but I just think, not necessarily from the point of view of winning next week, but the 20kg will help her long term, just not in the short term.”

Dwyer is also considering further travels with Asfoora to York's G1 Nunthrope Stakes, the G1 Flying Five on Ireland's Champions Weekend, and the G1 Prix de l'Abbaye during the Arc meeting as she completes her European tour.

 

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