By Emma Berry, TDN Europe
Cover Image courtesy of Royal Ascot Racecourse
It's that time of year again, when Newmarket welcomes the international visitors ahead of Royal Ascot, and there are few with a more international profile than Carl Spackler (Ire).
From USA to Royal Ascot, then Australia
The son of Lope De Vega (Ire) was bred in Ireland and has visited Newmarket before when offered at Book 1 of the Tattersalls October Yearling Sale, but the treble Grade I winner has thus far spent his entire racing career in the United States with Chad Brown. From one of America's leading trainers he now passes to the care of one of Australia's and, following his purchase by Yulong Investments, the stallion is now with Ciaron Maher as he takes aim at the G1 Queen Anne Stakes before heading down under.
The chestnut with the striking blaze was hard to miss on the July Course just after 6am on Wednesday as he worked under Jamie Spencer. New Zealander James McDonald will be in the saddle at Ascot.
Maher's head of bloodstock, Will Bourne, said, “We came here wanting to have a hit out and this was Carl Spackler's second gallop since arriving in Newmarket. He came over here in good condition from Chad Brown, weighing about 525kg. After the feedback from Jamie Spencer from his first gallop, we came here today and achieved exactly what we wanted to. Jamie said when he gave him a squeeze late, he really exploded, and Jamie was really impressed by how much he has switched on since the first gallop.”
Bourne added, “A stiff mile at Ascot is a big ask coming from America, although his times out there really stack up and, thanks to his temperament, he is the perfect horse to travel. He is an absolute dude, like a kid's pony.”
Will Bourne | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
The Cox Plate, won last year by Yulong's Via Sistina (Ire) (Fastnet Rock), is the longer-term aim for the 5-year-old, who may yet run at Glorious Goodwood after Royal Ascot.
Asfoora to defend her title
Carl Spackler may be on his way to becoming an assimilated Aussie but one who can claim birthright is Asfoora, who has returned to the UK to defend her crown in the G1 King Charles III Stakes, also on the Tuesday of the royal meeting.
Now six, the daughter of Flying Artie has been accompanied by her regular rider Chenelle Ellis and trainer Henry Dwyer, who has been unable to give Asfoora a prep run in Europe, as he did ahead of last year's meeting.
He said, “We couldn't get a flight, it's as simple as that. In an ideal world, we would have been over here earlier. We were thinking of going to France and having a prep in the Group 3 sprint two weeks ago, but we couldn't get here in time. As it turns out, we had to do the work at home, travel, and give her a really quiet time here before hopefully going there all guns blazing next Tuesday.”
Asfoora | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
Dwyer added, “Oisin (Murphy) galloped her on Monday on the July Course. She had a lead horse and they went an easy furlong from the five to the four before running a really sharp 600 metres in around 33 seconds. She was steaming through the line with the blinkers on and pulled up like she hadn't had a gallop, so I think her fitness is good. She seems in a good place and Oisin is very confident, probably more than me, but I hope he is right.”
Dwyer, based in Ballarat, described his victory at Royal Ascot last year as “completely bonkers”.
He added, “I didn't care if she won or lost as long as she didn't embarrass herself or us. We were stood in the grandstand and, when she came past us and was clearly going to win, that was the last I saw of the race as I had 30 people jumping on top of me, cheering. I still don't think it has sunk in.”
Henry Dwyer | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
Ascot won't be the last time Asfoora is seen on British turf, as Dwyer outlined plans to run the mare at Goodwood and York, in the King George Stakes and Nunthorpe Stakes, as she did in 2024.
“Then we would like to go to Ireland and France, but it depends on her,” he said. “If she is in good order, we will be doing that.”
In other Australian-bred news, Ryan Moore is likely to be aboard Storm Boy (Justify {USA}) for Aidan O'Brien in the G1 Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes on the final day of the meeting.
