Jim Crowley: I’ve no doubt Al Asifah is a Group One filly

Jockey and Coral ambassador Jim Crowley reacts to his eye-catching Goodwood win and looks ahead to Royal Ascot

I’d sat on Al Asifah prior to her debut run and she’d given me a lovely feel in her homework, so even though I was riding at Sandown when she made her debut at Haydock, it wasn’t a surprise to see her win so well on her first run.

I hadn’t then been on her since Haydock, but was obviously looking forward to riding her at Goodwood, where she really couldn’t have been any more impressive.

Performance of the day 👀

Al Asifah laughs at her rivals in the Listed Agnes Keyser Fillies' Stakes @Goodwood_Races earlier under @JimCrowley1978.

Lofty targets surely await the unbeaten @ShadwellStud daughter of Frankel.pic.twitter.com/ZFv71qNyXn

— Champions Series (@ChampionsSeries) June 11, 2023

Both those wins have been over 10 furlongs on quick ground, but being by Frankel, I’d say she’d be versatile in terms of running on softer going, and I can see her staying a mile and half without any problems, so there are lots of potential options for her.

I’d also have no issue with her stepping straight up into Group One company now, meaning races like the Irish Oaks, Nassau Stakes and, further down the line, Prix Vermeille and Prix de l’Opera could all be suitable, that’s how highly we rate her.

She’s in the best of hands and John and Thady (Gosden) have given her plenty of time to mature, not running her as a two-year-old, and being a Shadwell homebred makes it all even more special for Sheikha Hissa and the team.