Foreign success for Aussie hoops and future plans for Asfoora

Win one and lose one for James McDonald

Horse racing fans in Australia are well-versed in what Romantic Warrior is capable of. The seven-year-old has won about $42 million in his career, finishing runner-up at Riyadh in the Saudi Cup. He has won 18 of his 24 starts, finishing second in another four.

That was the first time in his career that the horse had run on dirt, coping so much better with the surface than so many turf performers have in the past. Perhaps McDonald went too soon and too wide on him but keeping the horse out of the kickback was a good plan and he was simply beaten by a horse who was far more used to those conditions.

There was better luck for McDonald when he flew into Hong Kong the following day. Voyage Bubble was a short price to win the Hong Kong Gold Cup and ultimately he managed to do so but not without a scare first.

The horse stumbled 800m from the winning line and then had to switch to make his final challenge with about 300m to go. Despite that, he was well on top at the line to prove to be a winner that the horse racing bookmakers would not have enjoyed.

Rachel King the first female jockey to win a Japanese Grade 1

Japan is a very difficult jurisdiction in which to ride a winner for any hoop. Female jockeys in particular had never tasted success at the highest level of the sport in the country until Rachel King saluted on Costa Nova in the February Stakes at Tokyo racecourse on Sunday.

Last year, King made history in Japan by becoming the first female jockey to ride any group race winner in the country. To follow that up a year later in a race at the highest level is remarkable. Even more so on a horse that she had never had the chance to sit on before.

King was another hoop who was involved in the meeting in Saudi Arabia. She finished second in the International Jockeys Challenge, riding a winner on the card there to further add to her reputation on the world stage.

Asfoora set to return to Royal Ascot

After a successful raid on the English meeting in 2024, Henry Dwyer has his sights once more set on the King Charles III Stakes in Berkshire. She had gone there after a heavy season of racing but still got the job done with things different this time around.

The Nunthrope at York in August was the last time that she was seen in a race. There was no spring prep for her at home with a muscle tear keeping her out of action. A return in the Lightning last weekend was too soon for her so plans have changed again.

A tilt at The Sangster at Morphettville at the end of April is going to be the main target for her in the autumn. She was in action in England as early as May last year but a final prep race a month later in Australia will necessitate a change of plan this time around.

There is plenty to look forward to through the autumn at home but it was great to see Aussie-based hoops doing so well over the weekend. The betting sites are going to be busy for further international success as well with Asfoora heading back to England.