A massive racing fan from early childhood years, Henry Dwyer’s future was cast in stone well before he picked up a rake and broom to pay his way through university. From attending race meetings with family through primary school, to having a sneaky box trifecta or quaddie through high school, then sitting up on the Studbook website studying pedigrees with the advent of the internet in the late 90’s, Henry has lived and breathed thoroughbred horse racing all his life. It was no surprise then, upon graduating from school and living on campus at Newman College, Henry was drawn to the allure of Flemington Racecourse, just down the road. Whilst most of his contemporaries worked in pubs, Henry would ride his bike to Flemington at 3.30am, six mornings a week, to learn the art of preparing racehorses.
Upon completion of his Commerce/Arts Degree at Melbourne University, and after working for respected trainers the like of Robert Smerdon, Russell Cameron, John Sadler and Dan O’Sullivan, Henry moved further afield to work at Ealing Park Stud, Euroa, where he cared for stallions, mares, yearlings and foals. His time at Ealing Park in turn led to further education at Marcus Oldham College, Geelong where Henry completed an Advanced Diploma in Horse Business Management.
While still unsure whether pursuing a training career was an overly sensible option, at the age of 25 Henry took up a position as Assistant Trainer at Lloyd Williams’ storied Macedon Lodge. That year Williams’ imported galloper Green Moon was to win the Melbourne Cup, an amazing experience to be a part of, and the impetus for travel.
Embarking on an international fact-finding mission spanning Hong Kong, Dubai, England, Ireland and France, Henry had the amazing opportunity to spend time with some of the world’s most renowned conditioners and explore different ways of training thoroughbreds.
The year was 2013 and it was time to bite the bullet, hang the Henry Dwyer Racing shingle and get the show on the road. Initially sub-letting four run-down boxes at Caulfield Racecourse, five inexpensive horses – two yearlings and two tried horses, were purchased and put into work. Success was almost instant, with metropolitan wins in Melbourne and Sydney courtesy of Mendivil and Group One glory six months into his training career, in the Queensland Derby courtesy of Godolphin castoff Sonntag.
Not long after a six-year-old mare named Precious Gem walked into the stable. She was relatively well performed having been a metropolitan winner from about 20 starts, however in a whirlwind preparation in early and mid-2014 she secured multiple stakes wins including the Group One Robert Sangster Stakes in Adelaide, before being sold at that year’s Magic Millions Winter Broodmare Sale. She was gone as quickly as she came however this initial success opened the floodgates for more horses, and stables, with a further sixteen boxes being acquired in 2014 and another block of 16 in 2015.
Winners flowed including multiple stakes victories with the likes of Snitty Kitty and Lucky Liberty, as well as top shelf jumpers The Dominator, Riding High and Brungle Bertie, however a headline act was still missing. Momentum was halted temporarily with a shift to Ballarat off the back of the impending closure of Caulfield as a training centre, however the winners kept coming.
The year was 2020 and an unwanted filly from humble beginnings walked into the stable. Bred by the El-Fahkri family at their Noor Elaine Farm, the filly by Flying Artie won her first three starts at Colac, Stawell and Caulfield, however even at this stage it was hard to foresee the impact she was going to have on both trainer and owner’s lives in the coming years. Despite multiple Group One placings and Group Two victories, Asfoora was still perceived as a second-tier sprinter in Australia, who was struggling to crack it at the elite level. With the backing of the El-Fahkri family and the foresight of Dwyer, the mare was sent to the UK in an audacious plan aimed at securing an international Group One victory, or if all else failed paying her way.
Now a winner of the Group One King Charles III at Royal Ascot, the Nunthorpe Stakes at York and the Prix l’Abbaye at Longchamp, Asfoora is an incredible endorsement for the training acumen of Henry Dwyer.
Henry believes in focusing on quality over quantity and from his base of 45 boxes at Ballarat, regularly punches above his weight. He has invested heavily in world class facilities, has access to some of Australia’s best training grounds at neighbouring Ballarat Racecourse and has the ability and experience to plan, prepare and execute, as he’s shown so many times over the past 12 years.
SIMON MORRISH
TRAINING CONSULTANT
Simon has had a very successful horse training career in his own right, having run his own training operation out of Ballarat for over 30 years. He has joined Henry Dwyer Racing as a training consultant as a ‘segway to retirement’. This working relationship with Henry means that the vast knowledge and experience Simon has gained is not lost to the industry and Simon is able to continue to work in the industry he loves whilst reducing the full-time pressures of being responsible for operating a stable full-time.
WAYNE KRATZMANN
SALES AND OWNER LIAISON MANAGER
‘Kratzie’ has as much life experience as anyone you’re likely to meet. The boy from Kingaroy had a successful career in hospitality and politics before finding his way to the stable, where he is an integral part of the racing team. His passion for thoroughbreds and horse ownership is immense, and there are few better to talk horses with than our man Kratzie.
