How a racehorse owner fired off a boozy message, and was proven wrong in front of the King

Sydney Morning Herald16-06-2025

Prominent racehorse owner Rod Lyons has scaled some of the great heights of racing, including winning The Everest with boom sprinter Nature Strip, but there is one regretful moment he would love to take back.
At the end of a boozy Friday afternoon in the middle of June last year, Lyons fired off a 'tongue-in-cheek' message to trainer Henry Dwyer and the owners of Asfoora, saying they were 'wasting their time' taking their mare to Royal Ascot.
He went further than that. He said the horse was a 'second-rater' who would not only waste their money but embarrass great Australian sprinters who had won at Royal Ascot in the past.
With the benefit of hindsight, Lyons now admits he was made to look a 'fool'.
Loading
Days after he sent his note, Asfoora became the sixth Australian sprinter to win the King Charles Stakes.
The ecstatic scenes after she thundered down the iconic 1000-metre straight, under the urgent riding of Oisin Murphy, were celebrated across the country.
Ballarat trainer Dwyer, who gave up accountancy to run a stable of horses, was ushered into the royal enclosure, resplendent in top hat and tails, and shook hands with King Charles.
The only one feeling uncomfortable in that moment was Lyons.