Racing
Asfoora on target for Irish sprint
Asfoora is on song to land a third European Group 1 when she lines up in Ireland on the weekend.
Trainer Henry Dwyer has given Asfoora a glowing report ahead on her next assignment in Europe.
Dwyer is likely to remain in Australia when Asfoora runs in the Group 1 Flying Five Stakes at The Curragh on Sunday as she chases a second Group 1 win for the campaign having saluted in the Nunthorpe Stakes at York last month.
All going to plan, Dwyer will return to Europe for Asfoora's next start in the Group 1 Prix de l'Abbeye at Longchamp in Paris which is run on the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe program on October 5.
"She bounced out of that last run, and we can't be any happier with her going into Sunday," Dwyer said after landing a winner at Sandown on Wednesday.
"If I do go, it will be a late dash. I'll go Saturday night and maybe get there an hour before the race, but I've had five trips so far and I'm definitely going over for France if she runs there.
"I think six trips is manageable, but seven is a bit tricky.
"It's a busy time of the year with plenty going on, so we might give this one a miss."
Meanwhile the Dwyer team has found form with the trainer posting a quinella at Sandown when Paradise Storm defeated The Autumn Belle in the MRC Spring Rewards Handicap (2400m).
Dwyer said Paradise Storm was starting to win him over after disappointing at his Australian debut in the Donald Cup last November.
The trainer said the French-bred stayer came to Australia as an entire but was immediately gelded following that poor debut showing.
"He's growing on me in fairness as I really disliked the horse early," Dwyer said.
"We paid a lot of money for him, and he came over as a stallion and I took him to Donald for the Donald Cup for his first race, and I nearly gave up training after that.
"He was carrying on, so we gelded him straight away. He's come back a nice horse and he's taken time to get there.
"He hasn't acclimatised yet, but he's got a good constitution. He ran in Adelaide nine days ago and came off the float bucking and squealing, so we thought we would back him up today and he was squealing and pigrooting out the back."
Dwyer said he had planned to send Paradise Storm for a spell 'win, lose or draw', but may now keep the gelding in work for one more start.
The Listed R M Ansett Classic (2400m) at Mornington on September 28 may be on the radar.
"It's pretty hard to go out in winning form, so we may have to look at the Ansett Stakes at Mornington, (especially) down in the weights," Dwyer said.
"I think the paddock would be a good place for him, whether that is now or with one more run under the belt."
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