Cote Atlantique gets a look at Flemington straight

The Irish-bred import who raced in Victoria last spring before venturing to New Zealand in the autumn and then Brisbane for a winter campaign, returns in the Group 3 Aurie's Star Handicap (1200m) on Saturday. 

Dwyer watched the gelding work at Ballarat on Tuesday before boarding a plane to the UK where he has Asfoora running in the Group 2 King George Qatar Stakes at Goodwood on Friday night (Melbourne time). 

Cote Atlantique had some good form to his credit last spring, chasing home future Group 1 winner Sepals at Caulfield then finishing fourth to Evaporate and Transatlantic at Sandown who would later go on to run one-two in the Toorak Handicap. 

He would then go on to defeat the highly credentialled Saint George in the Seymour Cup. 

The Irish-bred import who raced in Victoria last spring before venturing to New Zealand in the autumn and then Brisbane for a winter campaign, returns in the Group 3 Aurie's Star Handicap (1200m) on Saturday. 

Dwyer watched the gelding work at Ballarat on Tuesday before boarding a plane to the UK where he has Asfoora running in the Group 2 King George Qatar Stakes at Goodwood on Friday night (Melbourne time). 

Cote Atlantique had some good form to his credit last spring, chasing home future Group 1 winner Sepals at Caulfield then finishing fourth to Evaporate and Transatlantic at Sandown who would later go on to run one-two in the Toorak Handicap. 

He would then go on to defeat the highly credentialled Saint George in the Seymour Cup. 

While Cote Atlantique chased home Group 1 quality horses last spring, Dwyer said the team would pick around the edges this spring. 

He said while he is a winner at 1600m, Cote Atlantique would be kept to shorter races. 

"It's a long spring ahead and there's plenty of options for him," Dwyer said. 

"We'll find the weakest races we can. He's been very consistent without winning a lot of races in his time here. 

"I think he's best at 1400 metres with the blinkers on, so I don't know if we'll stretch him out to the mile again. 

"He just gets the mile, but he wants soft tracks too." 

Meanwhile Dwyer has watched Asfoora go through her paces at Newmarket after arriving in the UK on Wednesday. 

It was the first time he had seen the mare since finishing last in a Group 3 sprint at Sandown on July 4. 

"She seems good," Dwyer said. 

"She had 10 days in the paddock after Sandown and is 10 days back in work. 

"She looks terrific. She's sound, there's nothing wrong with her. 

"She can run on Friday and hopefully run well and then most likely go to stud."