Asfoora’s Royal return

Chenelle Ellis, Asfoora’s strapper, had never owned a passport, never been overseas, and never travelled a horse internationally. Yet she was entrusted to accompany Asfoora across the world, alone, to Newmarket in the UK. Over four and a half months, Ellis became the mare’s sole constant – through gallops at Amy Murphy’s yard, a run at Haydock, and finally the winning performance at Royal Ascot.

“I was very nervous,” she admits. “But Amy, the others at the stable, and Jane and George who I stayed with just made everything feel like home. And Asfoora, she never missed a beat. From the moment she stepped off the plane, she knew her job.”

Ellis had joined Henry Dwyer Racing only a few months prior, but has had a long experience with horses. She had grown up with ponies and spent five years with Calvin McEvoy. Dwyer recognised not just her skill with horses, but her meticulousness and her capacity to step up.

“Chenelle is diligent and intuitive, and I knew if anyone could take that horse overseas unassisted, it was her,” said Dwyer.

The logistics of transporting and relocating a racehorse across hemispheres are complex, and for Ellis, they were daunting. “I thought, ‘I don’t know what I’m doing!’” she said. But what she did was everything: feed, exercise, track selection, stable routine, even media interviews.

“We arrived in Newmarket and Asfoora had a couple of quiet days, then I took her out Monday. She stopped in the field and just looked around, ears pricked. It was like she was thinking, ‘Where am I?’ After that, she absolutely loved it.”

Both strapper and horse had to adapt to a different way of life than they were used to, adapting to the rhythms and routines of a different country. “We didn’t have to change too much, but we did have to follow the way that things were done over there,” said Ellis.

Looking after just one horse was a treat for the strapper, who would usually have up to eight in her care at once. “I am a  bit of a perfectionist and don’t like to leave any stones unturned. So having just one horse to devote all my time to was great. I had time to make things perfect, so any time anyone walked through the stables I was proud to get her out and show her off. I had time to get all the little things just right – all the one-percenters. It was a real luxury, actually.”

On race day, Ellis remembers arriving just two-and-a-half hours before the race – later than the UK norm – and feeling the weight of scrutiny.

“I was stressed. Everyone was saying it wasn’t enough time. But Asfoora was so relaxed, so settled. Then Oisin [Murphy, the jockey] got on her, and she lit up.”

And that race put Australia on the global map once again. Asfoora bolted down the straight to join an elite list of Aussie winners in the race: Choisir (2003), Takeover Target (2006), Miss Andretti (2007), Scenic Blast (2009), and Nature Strip (2022).

But it was the scenes that followed – notably Ellis’s emotional celebration – that captured hearts around the world.

“The day is a blur. Everyone saw the win, but I’d been there every morning and every afternoon for two months,” she says.

“She means the world to me. I’m so grateful to Henry and the owners for letting me go. To be there from the moment she landed to that day – it made me really proud.”

There was, of course, another surreal moment. “I was standing there with the trophy when they said I had to go up to meet King Charles. I was like, ‘What do I even do?’ I think I curtsied – but I had no idea what I was doing!” she laughed. “But he was really lovely. I also just loved the whole feeling of Royal Ascot. The way they do things on that day is so special.”

For Dwyer, the victory brought a sense of relief and validation. “After her first-up run at Haydock didn’t go well, there were doubts,” he admitted. “So seeing her cross the line first was more a sense of relief than anything else.”

His own encounter with King Charles III added a memorable dimension to the occasion. “I’m not a monarchist by any stretch, but we had a good chat before and after the race,” Dwyer said.

Throughout the trip, Ellis bore both the practical and emotional weight of responsibility. “Normally, I’m happy to stand back. I don’t like being in the limelight. But I had a camera crew following me, and I realised I couldn’t walk away.”

“Chenelle was great, she was thrown in the deep end and did so well. She was making decisions I usually make. She was picking up the tiny changes in the horse’s demeanour – things that make all the difference. I couldn’t have done it better myself.” Dwyer said.

Back home in Ballarat, those at Dwyer Racing are heading into another cold winter. But Ellis, Asfoora, Dwyer and some connections are heading for a European summer to do it all again. With Royal Ascot fast approaching, the team is preparing for a title defence – this time with confidence and strategic refinement.

Unlike last year, when Asfoora had a lead-up run at Haydock Park, this year’s preparation has taken a different shape. Flight schedules have dictated a later departure, with Asfoora set to fly to the UK on 29 May, just weeks before the race. Despite the shorter timeline, Dwyer remains optimistic, noting that her training at home has been focused and thorough.

Asfoora’s recent performances in Adelaide offered valuable insight into her current condition. She claimed victory in the Group 3 R N Irwin Stakes (1100m) at Morphettville, signalling her readiness for high-level competition. However, a subsequent seventh in the Group 1 Robert Sangster Stakes (1200m) prompted a brief rest.

“She had a bit of a flat run in the Sangster, so we gave her nine or ten days off in the paddock at Ballarat,” Dwyer said.

“She trialled at Flemington last Friday, 23 May, before travelling to Sydney, then on to Newcastle in the UK.”

To ease the effects of seasonal adjustment, the team has implemented light therapy – leaving stable lights on overnight to simulate the longer daylight hours of the UK summer. The goal is to shift the horse’s circadian rhythms, a technique borrowed from breeding operations to stimulate hormonal balance.

As Asfoora prepares to defend her crown, the team remains focused but open to broader possibilities.

“We’ll see how she goes at Ascot. If she performs well, we might consider races in France – maybe Chantilly. But for now, it’s about giving her the best chance in the King Charles III Stakes.” Dwyer said.

More than just another shot at glory, this campaign is a continuation of a remarkable journey – one built on instinct, trust, and dedication from a devoted team. Because in the end, racing’s greatest stories often begin far from the spotlight.