By Emma Berry
Ciaron Maher could be in for a big day on the second weekend of Randwick's The Championships with Azkadellia (NZ) (Shinko King {Ire}) the current favourite for the 1600-metre G1 Coolmore Legacy S. A strong third to Winx (Aus) (Street Cry {Ire}) and Happy Clapper (Aus) (Teofilo {Ire}) in the G1 Doncaster Mile last weekend, her successful prep has included victory in the G3 Mannerism S. Feb. 27, followed by a half-length second to Peeping (Aus) Redoute's Choice {Aus}) a fortnight later in the G1 Coolmore Classic.
Close up behind her in the Coolmore Classic was Zanbagh (Aus) (Bernardini), who went on to score a deserved win in the G2 Emancipation S. at Rosehill on her most recent start.
Badawiya (Aus) (Al Maher {Aus}) and Lady Le Fay (NZ) (Thorn Park {Aus}) also come into the race from decent performances in the Emancipation (fourth and seventh, respectively), as does Gai Waterhouse's runner-up Supara (Aus) (Domesday {Aus}), who gains an emergency berth on the scratching of Politeness (Aus) (Street Sense).
A wide run round the bend in the G1 Vinery Stud S. put paid to the chances of Risque (NZ) (Darci Brahma {NZ}), who may have found the 2000 metres slightly beyond her, but she was hard on the heels of Palentino (Aus) (Teofilo {Ire}) and Tarzino (NZ) (Tavistock {NZ}) when a half-length third in last month's G1 Australian Guineas and should have a stronger chance dropped back to a mile.
Nigel Blackiston's Suavito (NZ) (Thorn Park {NZ}) has been a versatile campaigner with group victories over 1400 metres, 1600 metres and 2000 metres. Her most recent win came in Caulfield's G1 CF Orr S. in February, but she struggled to land a blow when last seen in the G1 Australian Cup.
The G2 Sunline S. winner and runner-up Miss Rose De Lago (Aus) (Encosta De Lago {Aus}) and Noble Protector (GB) (Haafhd {GB}) lock horns once more, with the latter–the winner of that same race in 2015–looking to overcome the 2 3/4-length deficit of their Mar. 24 showdown to continue her fine run for Qatar Bloodstock since her export to Australia.
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