Henry Dwyer's stable star will head to York on Friday week in a bid for further Group 1 glory in Britain.
Asfoora's journey across the globe has been one captured and enjoyed by many, but few more so than Chenelle Ellis. The Ballarat-based groom and regular rider has spent countless hours on the ground with her pride and joy since travelling halfway across the world and couldn't be prouder of the daughter of Flying Artie, who will bid to continue her love affair with England in the Group 1 Nunthorpe Stakes at York on Friday 23rd August.
"It's been absolutely amazing since we've brought her over here. I'm so happy and proud of her," said Chenelle Ellis.
"When Henry (Dwyer) asked me to come over it was a no-brainer. The summer here has been good, and it just makes it so much better when you have a horse who has been competitive in these great races."
A sensational performance in the Group 1 King Charles III Stakes at Royal Ascot in June raised the roof of the staggering Berkshire grandstand, creating a day that will surely live long in the memory of young Chenelle Ellis, whose face began to brim with pure pride and enjoyment when the core memory was welcomely revived.
"To go to Ascot – the experience, the atmosphere, it was just unreal. To be over here with a horse like her has just been unreal. I'm so grateful to Henry and the owner for entrusting me with her. A lot of people have asked me what the highlight of the day was, but it just has to be her winning. We wouldn't have had the day we had if she hadn't won."
She added: "Just to be there was amazing, to see the King and The Queen was amazing but for her to come out and win the way that she did, she was so dominant. The whole day was great."
Henry Dwyer's flying mare may have been touched off a short-head by Big Evs in the Group 2 King George Qatar Stakes at Glorious Goodwood on her third UK outing, but with Dwyer's horse expected to relish the flatter track and having suffered slight interference last time, bookmakers make her the 3/1 favourite to go 2-1 up in her matchup with Big Evs on the Knavesmire. Mick Appleby's contender is set to reoppose once more and is a general 4/1 chance to confirm the Goodwood placings.
"I'm looking forward to York," said Ellis. "She galloped this morning and galloped really good. She pulled-up well and her wind was good. Very happy and she's in a very good spot going into York."
Whilst a trip to York is next on the agenda, Asfoora's and Ellis' international journey could be set to continue further, with trainer Henry Dwyer previously indicating that the Flying Five Stakes (Ireland), Prix de l'Abbaye (France), and the Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint (America) are all possibilities down the line.
"I'm not too sure where she'll go after York, but she could go to Ireland then back to Australia or to France and then to America," said Ellis, who seemed to be relishing the possibility of travelling the world. "Either way, it would be an amazing trip. To go to Ireland would be unreal and to go to France and the US would be exactly the same.
"Whichever way she goes, I'm so grateful for her. It's been the trip of a lifetime."
