Guscic’s She’s Quality set to tackle Asfoora in King George Stakes
There will be a distinct Australian presence in the King George Qatar Stakes (Gr 2, 5f) at Goodwood on Friday, with sprinting star Asfoora (Flying Artie) set to continue her UK campaign in a clash with some of Europe’s top speedsters.
Trained by Henry Dwyer, Asfoora was impressive when finishing fifth, beaten just two lengths by American Affair (Washington DC) when first-up for her second European campaign in the King Charles III Stakes (Gr 1, 5f) at Royal Ascot last month, with the mare from down under aiming to build on that performance on the fourth day of the Glorious Goodwood carnival.
But while Asfoora will rightly draw the attention of Australian fans, she won’t be the country’s only representative flying the flag in the Group 2.
Prominent Australian owner John Guscic will also be represented in the race by recent acquisition She’s Quality (Acclamation), a progressive four-year-old mare who has been narrowly denied in her three stakes-level runs this preparation since joining his team earlier this year.
“She has run huge all season really, and it’s been slightly frustrating not to get her head in front where it matters,” Newmarket-based bloodstock agent David Skelly, who oversees Guscic’s international racing and breeding interests, told ANZ News.
“She’s hit the front on all three occasions this season and just got collared late on each time. I think Goodwood is a track that does favour horses that are on speed and I think the conditions of the race will really suit her.
“She’s just very fast, and it’s generally a race that’s run at quite a fast pace. She has a very high cruising speed, so hopefully it’ll be a case of catch me if you can. It’s definitely a race that I have had in the back of my head for a while for her and think the conditions will suit.”
Rated a 6/1 chance on Wednesday afternoon, She’s Quality brings solid form behind Group-winning rivals such as Rumstar (Havana Grey) and Mgheera (Zoustar), and the Jack Davison-trained mare is aiming to add a valuable Group 2 win to her own resume.
“She [Asfoora] is a Group 1 winner and has the form in the book—she’s obviously the favourite as well,” Skelly said. “She ran a huge race there last year, so she is very much the one to beat.
“That said, I think our filly has improved from where she was last year. In Europe, our sprinters tend to get better with age. If you look at American Affair, who won the King’s Stand at Ascot this year, he came through the handicap ranks and kept improving. We think She’s Quality is doing the same. She’s just getting better all the time.
“We’re very much the underdog, but given her running style and the expected conditions, we think this is a race that could really suit her. We’re looking forward to locking horns with Asfoora, that’s for sure.”
Guscic, the owner of emerging breeding operation Aristia Park Bloodstock, has quickly established himself as a growing force in the Australasian thoroughbred industry.
While still relatively new to breeding, Guscic has made an impact at the sales with a boutique broodmare band of 25 mares and having already bred Listed scorer Gold Bullion (Savabeel).
This year, Aristia Park sold 12 yearlings, including a standout colt by Home Affairs (I Am Invincible) (now named Hells Gates) who fetched $400,000 from McEvoy Mitchell Racing and Belmont Bloodstock at the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale.
As an owner, Guscic has enjoyed elite-level success through his involvement with First Light Racing, highlighted by VRC Oaks (Gr 1, 2500m) winner Aristia (Lonhro) and Australiasian Oaks (Gr 1, 2000m) winner Affaire A Suivre (Astern). Guscic has also partnered with Newgate and Coolmore, enjoying major wins with Militarize (Dundeel), Ozzmosis (Zoustar) and Switzerland (Snitzel).
Since enlisting the expertise of Skelly, a Flying Start graduate, Aristia Park has secured high-end broodmare prospects such as Ponca (American Pharoah), purchased for $550,000 at the Magic Millions National Broodmare Sale in May, while the purchase of She’s Quality is a key step in Guscic’s long-term plan to grow a high-end, dual-hemisphere broodmare band.
“John’s plan is to build up a boutique broodmare band over time,” said Skelly. “Our initial intention was to identify racing and breeding prospects in the northern hemisphere that would suit John and Aristia Park. At the time we were looking, it was about finding fillies who could perform on the track over the coming season.
“She’s Quality was a filly on my radar at the end of last year. She’d posted some strong figures, had her Listed win, and held her own at a good level. She’s got a nice pedigree, by Acclamation, who’s a proven broodmare sire, and she’s a very good type. I felt she could take us to major race days and had shown enough to be competitive at a high level. From both a racing and breeding perspective, she made a lot of sense.”
Guscic, who lives between Tunisia and Spain, has taken a growing interest in European racing and, through Skelly, has been expanding his global footprint, with Aristia Park having also recently acquired Songhai (Sands Of Mali), a filly who finished second in the Group 2 Railway Stakes at The Curragh last Saturday.
“I think the focus is really on quality over quantity, just maintaining a boutique group of mares,” Skelly said.
“John’s very interested in dual-hemisphere breeding and trading. Affaire A Suivre is in foal to Not This Time on a southern hemisphere cover and will go back to him before heading to Australia, while Angioletta is in foal to Too Darn Hot, also on a southern hemisphere cover, and she’ll travel down as well.
“With the farm in Australia and his growing involvement up here, he’s really keen to explore more dual-hemisphere opportunities, making smart acquisitions in Europe while continuing to build his presence in the Australasian market.”