Royal Ascot-winning Australian trainer Henry Dwyer has been granted a licence to train horses in Britain, marking a significant expansion of his international operations. Dwyer, whose main training base is in Ballarat, Victoria, intends to maintain a small string of horses in the UK during the summer months before repatriating them to Australia.
Dwyer's British Racing Ambitions
Dwyer announced that he has been officially issued a UK trainer's licence by the British Horseracing Authority. He expressed his honour and excitement about the opportunity, stating: "We've thoroughly enjoyed competing at all the major festivals the past two years, an experience we want to share with all our Australian owners."
Under his new licence, Dwyer plans to purchase and have in work four to six horses each summer in the UK. These horses will eventually be transferred back to his Ballarat base to continue their careers. He confirmed that he is likely to have three runners at Royal Ascot this year, with more expected in the future.
Asfoora's Continued Success
Dwyer's stable star, the seven-year-old mare Asfoora, has been a standout performer on the international stage. She won the 2024 King Charles III Stakes at Royal Ascot and followed up with victories in the Group 1 Nunthorpe Stakes and the Prix de l'Abbaye in 2025. After her heroics last year, Asfoora remained in Britain over the winter and resumed training with Newmarket-based trainer Lemos de Sousa.
She has run twice this year for de Sousa, finishing tenth in the Palace House Stakes and last of 12 in the Temple Stakes at Haydock. Despite those results, she remains on track for the upcoming renewal of the King Charles III Stakes, for which 27 horses were confirmed on Wednesday. Asfoora is currently a 12-1 chance with William Hill, while the race is headed by fellow Australian sprinter Overpass, the 5-2 favourite.
Other Runners at Royal Ascot
In addition to Asfoora, Dwyer will have Synners Kid in the Britannia Stakes and Kochella in the Albany Stakes. Both horses have previously run for de Sousa but will now compete under Dwyer's name. The trainer's presence at the meeting underscores his growing influence in British racing.
Dwyer's decision to secure a UK licence reflects his desire to compete at the highest level and share the experience with his Australian owners. He added: "We plan to purchase and have in work 4-6 horses each Summer in the UK, before repatriating them to Ballarat to continue their careers."
