SYDNEY, October 6, 2025 – Australian racing star Asfoora has made history by claiming the prestigious Prix de l’Abbaye at Longchamp, France, becoming the first Aussie horse to win the Group 1 event. The six-year-old mare, trained by Henry Dwyer, pulled off a stunning victory on Arc day, echoing the feat of Lochsong back in 1993 when she won both the Nunthorpe Stakes and the Abbaye in the same season.
The race nearly didn’t happen due to a last-minute passport mix-up that threatened to scratch Asfoora from the lineup. In a dramatic turn of events, Dwyer enlisted an Uber driver on a €200 retainer to dash across Paris and deliver the vital document just 90 seconds before the deadline. “It’s surreal,” Dwyer said. “We were within a minute and a half of not running.”
Ridden by Oisin Murphy, Asfoora powered to the front in the final furlong, beating 80-1 outsider Jawwal and She’s Quality. The win highlights Australia’s growing influence in global racing, with the country boasting more racecourses than any other nation, according to recent stats. Dwyer added, “We wanted to experience new things, and here we are winning Group 1 in France.”
This triumph adds to Asfoora’s impressive resume and showcases the ingenuity required in the high-stakes world of thoroughbred racing. With logistical errors costing teams thousands, Dwyer’s quick thinking saved the day. Racing fans Down Under are buzzing, and the victory is sure to spark more interest in Aussie horses taking on the world stage.
