Globetrotting star Asfoora looks perfectly poised for her first “home” Group 1 win after resuming with victory in last Saturday’s Group 3 R.N. Irwin Stakes (1100m) at Morphettville.
The six-year-old was racing for the first time since her fourth in the Group 1 Nunthorpe Stakes at York (UK) last August.
Ballarat trainer Henry Dwyer described Asfoora’s win as the “perfect homecoming” and said he was relieved to have her back to her best after the long spell, which followed a taxing four-start UK campaign highlighted by Royal Ascot victory in the Group 1 King Charles III Stakes.
Mitch Aitken had Asfoora ($4.20) one off the pace in running and she proved too good for Strathalbyn sprinter Sghirripa, notching her tenth win from 23 starts.
A $30,000 purchase at the 2000 Adelaide Magic Millions sale, Asfoora has now amassed $2,356,616 in prizemoney.
She will have her next run in the Group 1 Robert Sangster Stakes (1200m) at Morphettville on Saturday week.
Two for Todd
Success for the Victorian trainers started early at Morphettville when Stawell-based Andrew Bobbin was successful with Girls Girls Girls ($6) in the opening 0-66 handicap over 2500 metres.
Giving Todd Pannell the first leg of a double, Girls Girls Girls came from worse than midfield in running . 
Pannell brought up the second leg of his double when the Michael Hickmott-prepared Spirit Of Camelot ($1.95 favourite) won the 1600-metre benchmark 72, heat seven of the Adelaide in Autumn Series) 
Petit but powerful
The Mornington-based husband-and-wife training duo Amy and Ash Yargi appear to have a nice prospect in their stable after the strong win of Petit Artiste ($7.50) in the listed Without Fear Stakes for two-year-olds over 1050 metres.
Petit Artiste was a $15,000 purchase at the Melbourne Premier yearling sale last year. 
Presenting Daniel Stackhouse with the first leg of double, the Earthlight filly came from worse than midfield to register her first win at start number three.
Stackhouse completed his double when Reverse Bank ($2.90) won the listed Redelva Stakes over 1100 metres for Cranbourne-based Mick Price and Michael Kent junior. 
Hell yes
The domination of interstate stables continued when the Annabel Neasham and Rob Achibald-trained import Hellsing ($6) won the listed City of Adelaide Handicap (1529m). 
It was Hellsing’s first win since he took the listed Churchill Stakes at Tipperary in Ireland on August 5, 2022.
Will Price rode him to victory at Morphettville.
Another Oaks on Cinch’s agenda
After taking out the Tasmanian Oaks at Launceston in February, Cinch made it two fillies’ features in succession when she won the Group 3 Auraria Stakes over 1800 metres.
Prepared by the Hayes brothers and ridden by Celine Gaudray, Cinch ($4 favourite) was in a prominent position throughout.
She will now be set for the Group 1 Australasian Oaks (2000m) at Morphettville on Saturday week.
Snoopy stuns ’em
It was up to Murray Bridge-based Darryl Hewitt to prevent an interstate sweep in the black-type races at Morphettville when maiden three-year-old Snoopy Now ($26) took out the listed Port Adelaide Guineas (1800m).
Snoopy Now came from well back under Connor Murtagh, making a move late in the event to open his winning account at start 8.
Hop to it
There’s plenty of action as always in SA over Easter, with Oakbank and Clare racing Saturday then Penola Cup day on Sunday, with the main event over 1700 metres, running as heat six of the Limestone Coast Series and heat nine of the Adelaide in Autumn Series). On Monday we’re back to Oakbank.