King Charles III Stakes
 QuinnBet
Group 1, Ascot 15:40
£500,000 guaranteed,
3yo plus,
5f, Class 1   
Tuesday 18th June 2024

Boylesports

1 Asfoora 5/1
2 Regional 6/1
3 Big Evs 11/4F
17 ran Distances: 1l, ½l, shd
Time: 58.60s (fast by 0.80s)

The five-year-old mare, a first runner at the meeting for trainer Henry Dwyer, broke the hearts of favourite backers as she collared three-year-old Big Evs with half a furlong to run, and then pulled ahead for a decisive victory.

Sent off a 5/1 chance under Oisin Murphy, Asfoora had a length in hand at the line, with Regional taking second and the 11/4 favourite Big Evs half a length further back in third. 

Twice placed at G1 level in Australia, this was Asfoora’s first top-level victory and came on the back of a fourth in last month’s G2 Temple Stakes at Haydock.

Dwyer said: “I am really struggling for words, funnily enough. We have come a long way from Ballarat, but it's been an amazing experience from start to finish. We've been so well looked after and we're so grateful for that.

"Chanel, who looks after this horse the whole time, has sacrificed a lot to be here so I'm thrilled for her. It was a bit of an audacious plan. This time last year - or probably two years ago – I thought, we’re restricted in Australia and we need a few options over here. We couldn’t travel her at that stage – she wasn’t mentally sound enough. We took her to Perth last year for a race called the Quokka, an iconic Australian race, and it was more the travel that we wanted her to experience to see if she could come over here. She did it great, it was the making of her, and here we are.

“We got a bit of stick from home for bringing her over because she wasn't seen as one of our better sprinters but we were just so confident that she was really textbook wheelhouse five furlongs and she's proven that today. We just didn't have the races for her in Australia and she's proved she's up to it and I'm thrilled for everyone involved.

“We needed a lead-up run at Haydock, so she came over early, but just with the changing of seasons we wanted to be here before it was too cold in Australia and too warm over here. We came over in the nice interchange period, and we needn’t have worried because she settled in brilliantly, and the proof was in the pudding today.

"I was incredibly lucky to have a couple of Group One winners in my first year, but it's been a bit of a dry spell since then in terms of Group Ones. This mare just really deserved one. She's had so much go against her in the Group Ones she has run in in Australia.

"To get a Group One at home is great but to get one at Royal Ascot is just amazing. We've got so many people here sharing it with us, but there is another group of 40 or 50 of my owners from home that would saw their left leg off to have a runner at Royal Ascot. It is an amazing experience.”

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Murphy said: “I am thrilled for connections. It's very brave to come from Australia with a very good horse, taking in all the travel and perform on the big day, but how good was she?

"I wasn't focusing on Big Evs, I was focusing on Regional, who gave me a perfect tow to halfway. She lugged a little bit right under pressure, looking for company, but how good was she at the line.

"It is hard to win Group One races and the King Charles III Stakes is a massive race, so I'm delighted. Royal Ascot day one, to win a Group One, brilliant."

Regional’s trainer Ed Bethell said: “Fair play to the Australians, they won fair and square. They got their horse in great nick here today. It is mixed emotions. It’s just horseracing, isn’t it? Ah look, it was tremendous really and I’m delighted for the horse, for Callum and for these guys, who have put their money into it – it is great to have syndicates like this. Another half a furlong and we might have got there! That’s horseracing. We can be nothing but proud of our horse. We will go up to six furlongs, because we are hitting the line good. I would imagine we will try and aim towards something like the July Cup now.”

Mick Appleby said of Big Evs: “He has run very well. He showed a lot of speed early on and the stiff finish just caught up with him in the last 100 yards. He's taking on the older horses, the best sprinters in the world, and he's held his own against them. He's only going to improve on that as he gets older. He is rapid and he's better on a quicker five, so we'll possibly go back to Goodwood, and then hopefully back to the Breeders' Cup."

Cleeve Racing £10 trial

King Charles III Stakes (Group 1)
£500,000 guaranteed, 3yo plus, 5f, Class 1
17 ran
Going: Good to Firm

POS. (DRAW) DIST HORSE AGE WGT TRAINER JOCKEY SP
1 (17)    Asfoora 5 9-4 Henry Dwyer Oisin Murphy 5/1
2 (15) 1 Regional 6 9-7 Edward Bethell Callum Rodriguez 6/1
3 (6) ½ Big Evs 3 9-1 Michael Appleby Tom Marquand 11/4F
4 (1) shd Believing 4 9-4 George Boughey Daniel Tudhope 9/1
5 (8) 1¾ Kerdos 4 9-7 Clive Cox Richard Kingscote 14/1
6 (4) nse Twilight Calls 6 9-7 Henry Candy Ryan Moore 14/1
7 (5) ½ Makarova 5 9-4 Ed Walker Paul Mulrennan 20/1
8 (10) 2¼ Emaraaty Ana 8 9-7 Jamie Osborne Saffie Osborne 33/1
9 (9) ½ Purosangue 3 9-1 Andrew Balding David Probert 80/1
10 (7) nk Diligent Harry 6 9-7 Clive Cox Rossa Ryan 14/1
11 (11) ½ Rogue Lightning 4 9-7 Tom Clover James Doyle 16/1
12 (16) 1¼ Kylian 3 9-1 Archie Watson Hollie Doyle 40/1
13 (3) 1¼ Seven Questions 3 9-1 George Scott Callum Shepherd 80/1
14 (14) nk Valiant Force 3 9-1 Adrian Murray David Egan 12/1
15 (2) nk Crimson Advocate 3 8-12 John & Thady Gosden William Buick 25/1
16 (12) ¾ Vadream 6 9-4 Charlie Fellowes Kieran Shoemark 100/1
17 (13) 1¼ Equality 6 9-7 Charles Hills Jamie Spencer 40/1

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KING CHARLES III STAKES
Past Results

2023-WINNER-BRADSELL Archie Watson Hollie Doyle Victorious Racing 3 9-01 14/1

2022-WINNER-NATURE STRIP Chris Waller James McDonald R A E Lyons, P D Harrison Et Al 7 9-07 9/4

2021-WINNER-OXTED Roger Teal Cieren Fallon S Piper,T Hirschfeld,D Fish & J Collins 5 9-05 4/1

2020-WINNER-BATTAASH Charlie Hills Jim Crowley Hamdan Al Maktoum 6-9-04 5/6F

2019-WINNER-BLUE POINT Charlie Appleby James Doyle Godolphin 5-9-04 5/2

2018-WINNER-BLUE POINT Charlie Appleby William Buick Godolphin 4-9-04 6/1

2017-WINNER-LADY AURELIA 3-8-09 Owner-Stonestreet Stables, George Bolton, Peter Leidel; Trainer-Wesley Ward USA; Jockey- John Velazquez; SP-7/2
2ND-Profitable 5-9-04 Owner-Godolphin; Trainer-Clive Cox; Jockey-James Doyle; SP-14/1
3RD-Marsha 4-9-01 Owner-Elite Racing Club; Trainer-Sir Mark Prescott; Jockey-Luke Morris; 11/4F
17 ran; Time-57.45s; Dist-3, hd

2016-WINNER-PROFITABLE 4-9-04 Owner-Alan Spence; Trainer-Clive Cox; Jockey-Adam Kirby; SP-4/1
2ND-Cotai Glory 4-9-04 Owner-Kangyu Int Racing (HK) Ltd & F Ma; Trainer-Charlie Hills; Jockey-George Baker-SP-33/1
3RD-Goken 4-9-04 Owner-Guy Pariente; Trainer-Kevin Ryan; Jockey-Jamie Spencer; SP-50/1
17 ran; Time-1m 2.69s; Dist-nk, 1 6/4 Fav Mecca’s Angel (16th)

2015-WINNER-GOLDREAM 6-9-04 Owner-J Sargeant & Mrs J Morley; Trainer-Robert Cowell; Jockey-Martin Harley; SP-20/1
2ND-Medicean Man 9-9-04 Owner-Stuart & Kate Dobb; Trainer-Jeremy Gask; Jockey-Joao Moreira; SP-50/1
3RD-Muthmir 5-9-04 Owner-Hamdan Al Maktoum; Trainer-William Haggas; Jockey-Paul Hanagan; SP-3/1
18 ran; Time-59.11s; Dist-sh, nk 5/2 Fav Sole Power (5th)

2014-WINNER- SOLE POWER 7-9-04 Owner-Sabena Power; Trainer-Edward Lynam IRE; Jockey-Richard Hughes; SP-5/1
2ND-Stepper Point 5-9-04 Owner-Clive Edginton; Trainer-William Muir; Jockey-Martin Dwyer; SP-50/1
3RD-Hot Streak 3-8-12 Owner-Qatar Racing Limited; Trainer-Kevin Ryan; Jockey-Jamie Spencer; SP-3/1 Fav
16 ran; Time-58.85s; Dist-11⁄4, nk

2013-WINNER- SOLE POWER 6-9-04 Owner-Sabena Power; Trainer-Edward Lynam IRE; Jockey-Johnny Murtagh: SP-8/1
2ND-Shea Shea 6-9-04 Owner-Bryan Joffe & Myron Berzack; Trainer-Mike De Kock SAF; Jockey-Christophe Soumillon; SP-11/4 Fav
3RD-Pearl Secret 4-9-04 Owner-Qatar Racing Limited; Trainer-David Barron; Jockey-Jamie Spencer; SP-10/1
19 ran; Time-58.88s; Dist-nk, 1¼

2012-WINNER- LITTLE BRIDGE 6-9-04 Owner-Ko Kam Piu; Trainer-Danny Shum HK; Jockey-Zac Purton; SP-12/1
2RD-Bated Breath 5-9-04 Owner-Khalid Abdullah; Trainer-Roger Charlton; Jockey-James Doyle; SP-11/2
3RD-Sole Power 5-9-04 Owner-Sabena Power; Trainer-Eddie Lynam IRE; Jockey-Johnny Murtagh; SP-8/1
22 ran; Time: 59.29s; Dist ¾, 1 9/2 Jt Favs Ortensia (9th), Wizz Kid (10th)

2011-WINNER- PROHIBIT 6-9-04 Owner-Dasmal, Rix, Barr, Morley, Mrs Penny; Trainer-Robert Cowell; Jockey-Jim Crowley;
SP-7/1
2RD-Star Witness 4-9-04 Owner-Widden Stud; Trainer-Danny O’Brien AUS; Jockey-Steven Arnold; SP-6/1
3RD-Sweet Sanette 6-9-01 Owner-Chow Hong & Wu Po Kung; Trainer-Tony Millard HK; Jockey-Jamie Spencer; SP-16/1
19 ran; Time: 59.50s; Dist ½, ½ 11/2 Fav Kingsgate Native (6th)

2010-WINNER-EQUIANO 5-9-04 Owner-James Acheson; Trainer-Barry Hills; Jockey-Michael Hills; SP-9/2
2ND-Markab 7-9-04 Owner-Tight Lines Partnership; Trainer-Henry Candy; Jockey-Pat Cosgrave; SP-14/1
3RD-Borderlescott 8-9-04 Owner-James Edgar & William Donaldson; Trainer-Robin Bastiman; Jockey-Neil Callan; SP-16/1
12 ran; Time: 59.00s; Dist: 1½, nk 5/2 Fav Kingsgate Native (6th)

2009-WINNER-SCENIC BLAST 5-9-04 Owner-Elio Anthony Galante & Partners; Trainer-Danny Morton AUS; Jockey-Steven
Arnold; SP 11/4 Fav
2ND-Fleeting Spirit 4-9-01 Owner-The Searchers; Trainer Jeremy Noseda; Jockey-Ryan Moore; SP-7/2
3RD-Anglezarke 3-8-09 Owner-David Armstrong; Trainer-David Easterby; Jockey-David Allen; SP-33/1
15 ran; Time: 59.54; Dist: ¾, 2¾

2008-WINNER-EQUIANO 3-8-12 Owner-James Acheson; Trainer-Mauricio Delcher Sanchez ESP; Jockey-Olivier Peslier;
SP 22/1
2ND-Takeover Target 9-9-04 Owner-Joe & Ben Janiak; Trainer-Joe Janiak AUS; Jockey-Jay Ford; SP-6/1
3RD-Fleeting Spirit 3-8-09 Owner-The Searchers; Trainer-Jeremy Noseda; Jockey-Ryan Moore; SP-15/8 Fav
13 ran, Time-59.35s, Dist: ½, nk

2007-WINNER-MISS ANDRETTI 6-9-01 Owner-Sean Buckley, Dave Mueller, Gabriella Guenzi; Trainer-Lee Freedman AUS;
Jockey-Craig Newitt; SP-3/1 Fav
2ND-Dandy Man 4-9-04 Owner-H R H Princess Haya Of Jordan; Trainer-Tracey Collins IRE; Jockey-Pat Shanahan; SP-15/2
3RD-Magnus 5-9-04 Owner-Robert Crabtree; Trainer-Peter Moody AUS; Jockey-Damien Oliver; SP-14/1
20 ran, Time-57.44s, Dist: 1¾, nk

2006-WINNER-TAKEOVER TARGET 7-9-07 Owner-Joe & Ben Janiak; Trainer-Joe Janiak AUS; Jockey-Jay Ford; SP-7/1
2ND-Benbaun 5-9-02 Owner-Ransley, Birks, Hillen; Trainer-Mark Wallace; Jockey-Jamie Spencer; SP-16/1
3RD-Pivotal Point 6-9-02 Owner-R A Bernard; Trainer-Peter Makin; Jockey-Frankie Dettori; SP-25/1
28 ran, Time-59.79s, Dist: sh, ½ 5/1 Fav Moss Vale (8th)

2005-WINNER-CHINEUR 4-9-02 Owner-Marquesa De Moratalla; Trainer-Mikel Delzangles FR; Jockey-Christophe Lemaire;
SP-7/1
2ND-Boogie Street 4-9-02 Owner-Hippodrome Racing; Trainer-Richard Hannon; Jockey-Richard Hughes; SP-16/1
3RD-Moss Vale 4-9-02 Owner-John C Grant & Cheveley Park Stud; Trainer-Barry Hills; Jockey-Michael Hills; SP-14/1
16 ran, Time-57-55s, Dist: 1¾, nk 11/2 Jt-Favs Var (6th) and The Tatling (7th) (run at York)

2004-WINNER-THE TATLING 7-9-02 Owner-Dab Hand Racing; Trainer-Milton Bradley; Jockey-Darryll Holland; SP-8/1
2ND-Cape Of Good Hope 6-9-02 Owner-Exors of the late R Carstairs; Trainer-David Oughton HK; Jockey-Michael Kinane;
SP-13/2
3RD-Frizzante 5-8-13 Owner-Jan Hopper & Elizabeth Grundy; Trainer-James Fanshawe; Jockey-Johnny Murtagh; SP-9/2
Fav
19 ran, Time-1m 0.16s, Dist: 1½, nk

2003-WINNER-CHOISIR 4-9-07 Owner-Terry Wallace & Partners; Trainer-Paul Perry AUS; Jockey-Johnny Murtagh;
SP-25/1
2ND-Acclamation 4-9-02 Owner-Dulford Cavaliers; Trainer-Gerald Cottrell; Jockey-Pat Eddery; SP-16/1
3RD-Oasis Dream 3-9-01 Owner-Khalid Abdullah; Trainer-John Gosden; Jockey-Richard Hughes; SP-6/1 Fav
20 ran, Time-59.68s, Dist: 1, 1½

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