A place in the field for Saturday weeks JJ Atkins Stakes (1600m) awaits four runners in Saturday's Listed Ascot Green The Phoenix (1400m) at Eagle Farm.
Two of the Chris Waller trio, Mojave Desert (I Am Invincible) and Influential (The Autumn Sun), are 17th and 24th, respectively, in the JJ Atkins. The Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott-trained filly Azula (Maurice) is 19th, and the Robert & Luke Price-trained Brave Agenda (Brave Smash) is 21st.
Azula should take some running down.
The near-black daughter of Maurice (JPN) had little luck when fifth in a quality maiden at Warwick Farm on debut. She gave nothing else a chance when leading at every call over 1400m at Randwick-Kensington on May 10.
A $100,000 purchase for G Waterhouse / A Bott / Kestrel from the Twin Hills Stud draft at the 2022 Inglis Classic Yearling Sale, Azula is the fifth winner from six to race from the Redoute's Choice mare Shutout.
The winner of one of her six starts and placed twice in New Zealand, Shutout is a three-quarter sister to Group II-placed Joy's Choice (Redoute's Choice) and a half-sister to Listed Queen Adelaide stakes winner La Moulin Rouge (Street Cry).
Shutout's dam La Sizeranne won the Group City Tatt's QLD Winter Stakes in 2006, the year before it became a Group 1.
The daughter of Stravinsky was a multiple Group III winner in New Zealand, was narrowly beaten in the Group1 NZ in the New Zealand One Thousand Guineas and was third in the Group 1 New Zealand Thoroughbred Breeder's Stakes
La Sizeanne is a granddaughter of the blue-hen, My Tricia, a daughter of the Bart Cummings-trained Gay Poss (Le Filou), whose eleven wins included the AJC Oaks, Caulfield Stakes, Craiglee Stakes and Kewney Stakes.
My Tricia (Hermes) left eight foals by Sir Tristram and two by Sir Tristram's champion son Zabeel, as well as Concia (First Consul) and My Marseillaise (Marceau).
Concia left two stakes-winners, AJC Oaks heroine Mahaya and STC Sweet Embrace Stakes winner Shadea, the dam of Lonhro, Niello, and Shannara, and the great granddam of this season's smart 2yo Circular.
My Marseillaise produced the stakes-winners, Bon Cher and De Lisle.
The last two foals of My Tricia, the Zabeel mares Tricia Ann and Ana Zeal, left lasting legacies.
Tricia Ann is the dam of La Sizeranne and the granddam of ATC Australian Derby hero Tavigo (Tavistock).
Ana Zeel is the dam of Group II MVRC Champagne Stakes winner Estelle Collection, a blood-sister to La Sizeranne, who is the dam of the 5-time Group 1 winner and Australian Horse Of The Year, Lankan Rupee (Redoute's Choice).
Kelette Lodge bought a Denman colt from Shutout for $70,000 from the Twin Hills Stud draft at the 2023 Inglis Classic Yearling Sale.
After foaling a colt by the recently deceased Fiorente (IRE) last spring, Shutout was covered by Hallowed Crown.
