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Australian Ace Asfoora worth following at Goodwood

Written by Press Association | Aug 1, 2024 4:21:04 PM

Asfoora can add to her Royal Ascot victory with more glory in the King George Qatar Stakes at Goodwood on Friday.

The Australian raider has spent the summer in the United Kingdom based at the Newmarket stables of Amy Murphy.

Henry Dwyer's mare had her first taste of British racing at Haydock, where she was fourth of nine in the hands of Mitchell Aitken behind both Kerdos and Live In The Dream, who reoppose on the Sussex Downs.

On faster ground at Ascot, though, it was a different story as she galloped home a length clear of the King Charles III Stakes field under Oisin Murphy, leaving a number of runners who will again take her on trailing in her wake.

Socialite can get back in the winner's enclosure in the Bonhams Thoroughbred Stakes.

The Too Darn Hot colt was unraced as a juvenile and launched his three-year-old season with victory over 1400m at Leicester, coming home 1.25-lengths clear of Fair Point.

The Charles Hills inmate backed that up at Doncaster with another impressive victory, beating King's Gamble by 1.5-lengths.

He was then stepped up in grade to Listed company at Newmarket, as well as moving up in trip to a mile, for the Sir Henry Cecil Stakes, where he faded late on to come home fourth.

Socialite stays at a mile here, but having raced keenly that day, he can put that behind him and get back to winning ways in Sussex.

Cicero's Gift can make it a double for Hills in the Regent Seven Seas Cruises Bentinck Conditions Stakes.

The son of Muhaarar won his only start as a two-year-old at Newbury and made a successful return as a three-year-old on the all-weather at Wolverhampton.

He followed that up by completing the hat-trick at Goodwood before suffering the only defeat of his career when a well-beaten seventh in the St James's Palace Stakes won by Paddington.

Cicero's Gift then spent 382 days off the track after he suffered bone bruising in all four fetlocks but he shrugged that off as he made a winning return back down in handicap company in the Coral Challenge at Sandown and he can pick up a fifth career victory at Goodwood.

Perotto can put a couple of near misses behind him and get his nose in front in the Coral Golden Mile.

The six-year-old ended last season by winning the Shergar Cup Mile and on his seasonal reappearance he was only beaten a length when third in the Royal Hunt Cup at Royal Ascot.

He was then only 0.75-lengths behind Cicero's Gift in the Coral Challenge and can find his first win of the season here.

Statuario can make the trip across the Irish Sea a profitable one for the Bowen team in the Guinness Galway Blazers Handicap Chase at Galway.

Following two victories at Perth, the Peter and Michael Bowen-trained nine-year-old was third when dropped in trip to 4200m at Market Rasen.

But in the hands of Sean Bowen, he can come on from that run over 200m longer and get back in the winner's enclosure. - Press Association

TAB is betting on 6 UK meetings on Friday. Here are the tips.

GOODWOOD: Race 1: 14.50 Premiere Ligne, Race 2: 15.25 Socialite, Race 3: 16.00 Perotto, Race 4: 16.35 ASFOORA (NAP), Race 5: 17.10 Cicero's Gift, Race 6: 17.45 Sex On Fire, Race 7: 18.20 Wafei.

SOUTHWELL: Race 1: 15.00 The Grey Lass, Race 2: 15.35 Gulf Legend, Race 3: 16.10 Baraq, Race 4: 16.45 Mr Squires, Race 5: 17.20 Asinara, Race 6: 17.55 Run This Way.

NEWCASTLE: Race 1: 15.10 Cyclonite, Race 2: 15.45 Glitterati, Race 3: 16.20 Hettie Jack, Race 4: 16.55 Haveyoumissedme, Race 5: 17.30 Top Flight Century, Race 6: 18.05 Musical Diva, Race 7: 18.35 Jesmond Dawn, Race 8: 19.05 Flavius Titus.

NEWMARKET: Race 1: 18.43 Rhythmic Acclaim, Race 2: 19.18 Ararat, Race 3: 19.53 Shadow Of Light, Race 4: 20.28 Get Jiggy With It, Race 5: 20.58 Kalamunda, Race 6: 21.28 Allonsy.

BATH: Race 1: 18.50 Take A Pull, Race 2: 19.25 Gavin, Race 3: 20.00 Nanna Western, Race 4: 20.35 Katar, Race 5: 21.05 My Delilah, Race 6: 21.35 Exceed.

MUSSELBURGH: Race 1: 19.10 Lady Luzon, Race 2: 19.45 Curious Rover, Race 3: 20.20 Toy Soldier, Race 4: 20.50 Fanzone, Race 5: 21.20 Protest Rally, Race 6: 21.50 Tafsir.

DOUBLE: Asfoora and Cicero's Gift (Goodwood, Races 4 and 5).