The defection of G3 Grand Prix S. winner Order Again (NZ) (Iffraaj {GB}) from Saturday's G1 Queensland Derby has left the race with somewhat of an open feel, but the placegetters in that May 27 prep will look to step up into the spotlight. Volatile Mix (NZ) (Pentire {GB}) was second that day and will look to parlay his late running style into a second Group 1 score this season, having won the G1 SA Derby over Ruthven (Aus) (Domesday {Aus}) on May 13. That Ciaron Maher charge, who races in the same colours as stable star Jameka (Aus) (Myboycharlie {Ire}), looks to snap a streak that has seen him finish second in five of his last seven tries. A rare off-the-board finish for the colt was a respectable fourth in the G1 Australian Derby at The Championships on Apr. 1. Another who has been racing with consistency but without winning is the Grand Prix third Violate (Aus) (Sebring {Aus}), who missed the G3 Gunsynd Classic at Eagle Farm by a nose on Apr. 29 before checking in fourth behind Shocking Luck (NZ) (Shocking {Aus}) in the G3 Mittys Rough Habit Plate on May 13.
Shocking Luck is the mild favourite here, but he needs to bounce back from a sixth-place finish in the Grand Prix for Stephen Autridge and Jamie Richards and gets blinkers in addition to a first-time nasal strip and tongue tie. The May 20 G3 UBET SA Fillies Classic winner Ana Royale (Aus) (Anacheeva {Aus}) is the lone filly in the lineup and looks to bounce back from an unlucky eighth in last weekend's G1 Queensland Oaks.
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