Marcus Oldham graduate Henry Dwyer (EM’07) scored a stunning first-place victory with his horse Asfoora, in the Group 1 King Charles III Stakes at Royal Ascot on 18 June.
Traveling to the UK from the Henry Dwyer Racing stables in Ballarat, the five-year-old mare, had never won a Group 1 race before. A dual Group 2 winner Australia, she was the only horse to travel from Australia for the five-day carnival; the win making the gamble worthwhile.
Henry told Racing and Sports that Asfoora had not been seen as one of the stable’s better sprinters. “But we were just so confident that she was really textbook wheelhouse five furlongs and she’s proven that today.”
Henry met King Charles III, before and after the race. He told the media that he thought the Monarch had even placed a bet on Asfoora.
Henry came to Marcus Oldham after obtaining a Bachelor of Commerce/Arts degree at The University of Melbourne. While at Uni, he worked in the stables at Flemington and the love affair with horses began.
Graduation was followed by a year at Ealing Park Stud, where he learned about the journey of a racehorse from birth to when it enters the stable.
Feeling he needed to formalise his hands-on learning, Henry completed a Diploma in Horse Business Management at Marcus Oldham, graduating with a High Distinction in 2007.
After graduation Henry worked in the racing industry domestically and overseas. Returning home in 2013, he broke into the competitive Victorian training market, often with cast-offs from other major stables, and since then, he has continued to build his stable in Victoria.
Everyone at Marcus Oldham College is incredibly proud of Henry’s achievements and acknowledges his continued support to the College. Henry regularly hosts student visits to his facility, is a work experience employer for various graduates and sponsors the prize for the Equine Business Management Dux at the College graduation ceremonies.
We hope this month’s win inspires more young people to consider a career in the racing industry.