The Aussies can indulge in another bit of Pommie-bashing at Haydock today. Just like fast bowlers, they have consistently produced fast horses and ASFOORA (1.50) can strike middle stump on her British debut.
The five-year-old mare begins a summer long stay in the Group 2 Temple Stakes where last year’s Nunthorpe Stakes winner Live In The Dream is among her opponents. Asfoora’s major target is the King’s Stand Stakes, now renamed the King Charles III Stakes, at Royal Ascot which Australian sprinters have won five times this century. On her last start in March she finished fourth in a Group 1 and last September she was second to Imperatriz, a 10-time Group 1 winner who was rated the best sprinter in the world up to her recent retirement.
Royal Ascot-bound sprinter debuting at Haydock ‘not here for a haircut’ The Derby: Jaw-dropping York winner and likely favourite ruled out of £1.5m Classic She has the added benefit of winning form on soft ground and is a better option than Live In The Dream, running for the first time since November. Richard Hannon can win the Tattersalls Irish 2,000 Guineas today — but not with his first- string runner.
Hannon runs both Rosallion and HAATEM (3.40), second and third in the 2,000 Guineas at Newmarket, in the Curragh Classic but this time their places can be reversed. Rosallion came to win his race on the Rowley Mile only to be cut down by Notable Speech and he could be vulnerable again.
Rosallion has yet to win over further than 7f.
