King George Qatar Stakes: stats point to Asfoora

Stayers starred on day one, with races over a mile and a mile and a quarter taking centre stage on days two and three, but Friday sees the speedsters flash into the spotlight for the King George Qatar Stakes, one of the quickest five-furlong sprints in the world.

Downhill for the first couple of furlongs before a more demanding finish, there can sometimes be hard luck stories, but that certainly wasn’t the case when Battaash was on the scene, the Charlie Hills sprinter landing all four of his successive victories between 2017 and 2020 from near the front.

Only two of the past 11 winners were held up off the pace, though that almost rose to three 12 months ago when the Australian raider Asfooranarrowly failed to reel in Big Evs.

Asfoora is back seeking compensation, and while Big Evs is absent this year, his stablemate Big Mojo – who was second in the July Cup last month - is an able deputy.

Big Mojo will bid to become the fifth three-year-old winner since 2012 and is one of four in the line-up, including Time For Sandals who steps out of her age group for the first time following a gutsy Commonwealth Cup win last month. 

Though she is speedy, a big negative for Harry Eustace’s sprinter is that each of the last 22 winners had at least one win over the minimum trip to their name.

In terms of prep races, the King Charles III Stakes in its various guises has been a good guide, providing six of the last 13 winners.

Asfoora carried a penalty in this race 12 months ago for winning that corresponding Royal Ascot sprint, and looks the clear best bet here. 

She was ridden more prominently when fifth on her return to action there last month and a repeat of that effort should see her give Australia a second win in this fast and furious Group Two.