Talented Melbourne mare Azkadellia is among the nominations for the Group 1 $600,000 Coolmore Classic (1500m) at Rosehill on Saturday.
Azkadellia will head to Sydney for the Coolmore Classic following her last stride win, above, in the Mannerism Stakes at Caulfield. Photo by Ultimate Racing Photos.
The Ciaron Maher trained Azkadellia is one of nineteen entered in the Group 1 for the fillies and mares which boasts a very high quality line up.
Group 1 winners Amicus, Lucia Valentina, Politeness and Tinto are among the entries along with the well performed Don’t Doubt Mamma, Solicit and the undefeated John O’Shea trained Ghisoni.
Azkadellia has only had eleven race starts and recorded her fifth victory with her last stride win in the Group 3 $150,000 Premier Signs Mannerism Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield on February 27.
Maher said that he had targeted the Coolmore Classic as Azkadellia’s main Autumn Carnival goal and will now head to Sydney with a lot of confidence.
The Group 1 $1m Queen Of The Turf Stakes (1600m) at Randwick on April 9, the second day of ‘The Championships’, is also the radar for the Shinko King mare.
“We just thought her whole prep’s been based around having her pretty right for that (the Coolmore),” Maher told racing,com.
“She backed up in the spring pretty well, so depending on what she does next start, she can maybe go to the Queen of the Turf after that.”
“She’s always shown that real X-factor about her.”
Trainer John O’Shea is considering running his lightly raced three year old filly Ghisoni against the older mares after she led all the way at only her third race start to win the Group 2 $175,000 Coolmore Surround Stakes (1400m) at Randwick on February 27 against the fillies.
O’Shea has also nominated Ghisoni for the Group 2 $175,000 Cellarbrations Phar Lap Stakes (1500m) against her own age group.
Sydney’s leading trainer Chris Waller has also nominated Telepahtic along with his 2014 Group 1 Thousand Guineas winner Amicus.
Amicus was impressive winning first up in the Group 2 $175,000 NSW Thoroughbred Breeders NSW Breeders Classic (1200m) at Randwick on February 6 before running ninth of ten behind Solicit in the Group 3 $150,000 Guy Walter Stakes (1400m) at Randwick on February 27.
The Gerald Ryan trained Solicit has been a model of consistency and her win in the Guy Walter Stakes was well deserved after seconds in the Group 2 $200,000 Expressway Stakes (1200m) at Rosehill on January 30 and in the Group 2 $250,000 Optus Business Apollo Stakes (1400m) at Randwick on February 13.
Trainer Kris Lees will be looking for another Group 1 win for the stable with Lucia Valentina after taking out the Group 1 $1m Girvan Waugh Randwick Guineas (1600m) at Randwick last Saturday when Le Romain beat the odds on favourite Press Statement.
Lees also saddled up last race winner Savoureux who proved too strong for Private Secretary and Flashing Speed in the Group 3 $150,000 CHI-X Australia Wenona Girl Handicap (1200m).
Lucia Valentina is herself a dual Group 1 winner, taking out the 2014 Group 1 $400,000 Vinery Stud Stakes (2000m) at Rosehill and the 2014 Group 1 $500,000 Turnbull Stakes (2000m) at Flemington.
The Robert Smerdon trained Politeness will head to Sydney with two runs under her belt following a first up second to Heatherly in the Group 2 $200,000 Schweppes Rubiton Stakes (1100m) at Caulfield on February 13 and a seventh to Turn Me Loose in the Group 1 $500,000 italktravel Futurity Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield on February 27.
Solicit has been installed the early $4.40 favourite for the Coolmore Classic at Ladbrokes.com.au just ahead of Ghisoni at $5 and Azkadellia at $5.50.
Coolomre Classic market order at Ladbrokes.com.au: $4.40 Solicit, $5 Ghisoni, $5.50 Azkadellia, $9 Telephatic, $9.50 Politeness, $10 Don’ Doubt Mamma, Lucia Valentina, Zanbagh, $12 Amicus, $13 Peeping, $21 Pearls, $26 Sacred Eye, Tinto, $31 Casino Dancer, Italy, $35 Slightly Sweeter, Vergara, $51 Skyline Blush, $61 Anaphora.
