Murphy delighted to be back on Asfoora
By Racing TV
Last Updated: Fri 1 May 2026
Oisin Murphy is relishing the opportunity to reunite with superstar sprinter Asfoora in the HKJC World Pool Palace House Stakes at Newmarket on Saturday.
Murphy partnered the seven-year-old to victories in the Nunthorpe and Prix de l’Abbaye last summer and will again be in the plate on the Rowley Mile.
Now in the temprary care of Lemos De Souza in Newmarket, Murphy has ridden her to all three of her European Group One victories after also teaming up for King Charles III Stakes glory in 2024.
Murphy said: “She’ll need the race and I don’t think HQ will be the perfect track for her, but it’s great to see her back and I’m looking forward to riding her.”
Connections of Night Raider are confident a gelding operation can bring out the best in him.
Richard Brown, racing manager to owners Wathnan Racing, said: “I’ve still got so much time for this horse and I retain total belief in him. We’ve gelded him which I think will make a big difference and I look forward to seeing him running.
“It’s a proper speed burn up and we will be interested to try six furlongs with him again at some point, but this looks a nice place to get his season started.
“It will be interesting and whether this is his perfect course I don’t know, but we can see where we stand. I can’t stress enough how much faith I have in this horse. We’ve not quite found the key to him, but gelding him could be it.”
Shagraan has returned to Clive Cox after a two-year spell with Mick Appleby and the Lambourn handler could not be happier to have him back
Cox said: “We had him as a two-year-old and he won his maiden with us at Windsor. He was a model of consistency for his former team and I’m delighted to have him back with us and I’m looking forward to him running.”
Quinault is chomping at the bit to get back on the racecourse and Stuart Williams is more than happy to take his chance with the Abernant Stakes third.
Williams said: “He’s in good order. He’s come out of his last race jumping and kicking and instead of galloping him on Saturday anyway we thought we might as well have a go on the racetrack instead. He’s in great form.
“He ran really well in the Abernant Stakes. They were on him early and he hung in there for a long way so I was very pleased with the run.
“We’ll keep all of the big races in mind. We’ve put him in the Jubilee the other day and we’ll probably put him in the July Cup as well and there’s also options abroad in France.”
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