IRISH trainers have often travelled their best sprinters to the UK when their own sprint programme was lacking, but this year was the first I’d heard the same motivation for an Australian sprinter. Henry Dwyer said he was compelled to fly stable star Asfoora across the world in search of five furlong opportunities, despite her having yet to conquer the highest level on her home turf.

The ambitious Ballarat trainer was rewarded when the five-year-old mare broke her Group 1 duck in the King Charles III Stakes under Oisin Murphy. Asfoora’s previous attempts over the minimum trip included a gallant second to 10-time Group 1 winner Imperatriz in the Group 1 Moir Stakes.

Imperatriz retired in April but, looking at her race record, you wish she’d made the trip to Ascot during her career. Prior to the 2024 meeting, Wesley Ward explained that the meeting’s prize money paled in comparison to that Stateside, and the same can be said of Australian purses.

Imperatriz earned A$6.7million (£3,515,490) during her stellar career, with individual prizes including A$1.8million (£944,460) for winning the Group 1 Darley Champions Sprint and A$1,215,000 (£637,510.50) for winning the Group 1 Manikato Stakes

In contrast, Asfoora won £390,093.31 last week.

Meehan outdoes himself

Rashabar repaid Brian Meehan’s faith of running a twice-raced maiden in the Group 2 Coventry Stakes when returning the 80/1 winner. The Limerick-born trainer later said he was unsurprised, as the colt had learnt plenty on both his starts, particularly when placing at Chester.

Jayarebe provided Meehan with his second winner of the week when beating the favourite King’s Gambit in the Group 3 Hampton Court Stakes. He was one of five runners for the yard at the meeting, and one of 25 runners so far this year, at the time of writing.

To put that in perspective, Andrew Balding has run 168 (23 at Ascot), Charlie Johnston 144 (12) and Richard Fahey 126 (11), with none of them winning at the Royal meeting, though five of Balding’s runners placed, as did one of Fahey’s.

Chicago Critic repays the faith

Though a Group 3, the Jersey Stakes was anticipated to be one of the most exciting races of the week, as the dual classic placed Haatem reopposed Irish 2000 Guineas third River Tiber.

Some may have thought Johnny Murtagh mad entering the 97-rated Chicago Critic, who last month won a Naas handicap on his first start since being gelded. Breeder and co-owner Tony Smurfit insisted they contest the red-hot Group 3 rather than the Britannia, and he must have felt very proud when his Forenaghts homebred finished third, beaten just a length by Haatem.