Azkadellia (NZ) (Shinko King {Ire}) confirmed her position among the top filly and mare sprinter/milers in the country when storming up the rail to take Randwick's G1 Queen of the Turf S. at The Championships Apr. 9, and the 4-year-old will get her chance to show up the males on Saturday in the G1 Doomben 10,000. Azkadellia has done little wrong this prep. She won the G3 Mannerism S. over 1400 metres Feb. 27 before being beaten a half-length when second in the 1500-metre G1 Coolmore Classic Mar. 12, and was a bang-up third behind the peerless Winx (Aus) (Street Cry {Ire}) in the G1 Doncaster H. the week prior to her breakthrough Group 1 score in the Queen of the Turf.
Azkadellia will have to see off a number of also-rans from the May 14 G1 BTC Cup, including last year's G1 Darley Classic winner Delectation (Aus) (Shamardal). Delectation has failed to build on that form this campaign, thus far failing to hit the board in four outings, all in Group 1 company, but was running on well when he found trouble in the BTC Cup and checked in eighth. Fell Swoop (Aus) (Not A Single Doubt {Aus}) caught the eye when second only to the world-beater Chautauqua (Aus) (Encosta de Lago {Aus}) in the G1 TJ Smith S. Apr. 2, and followed that up with a win in the 1200-metre G2 Victory S. over this course Apr. 30 before finishing fifth after being caught wide in the BTC Cup. TJ Smith fifth Dothraki (Aus) (Mossman {Aus}) fared the best of these in the BTC Cup when second, and hasn't put in a bad run despite failing to win this prep.
An unknown quantity here is Music Magnate (NZ) (Written Tycoon {Aus}), who has finished off the board just once in 11 starts and tries Group 1 company for the first time. The 4-year-old gelding made a belated start to his campaign when winning Randwick's G3 Hall Mark S. over 1200 metres Apr. 16, but was nailed on the line to finish second in Scone's Listed Luskin Star S. two weeks ago.
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