Bred for stamina being by Melbourne Cup winner Shoicking from a daughter of Tavistock, talented Kiwi bred three-year-old Azazel has booked his passage for the Gr.1 VRC Derby (2500m) on Saturday week after a tough victory in the Listed Roderick Insurance Brokers 3YO Geelong Classic (2200m) at Geelong on Thursday.
Prepared by Mark Walker and ridden by Mick Dee, the son of Shocking was put into the race early when the pace slackened and despite racing wide over the concluding 600m, had a narrow advantage at the line from Highvol and Savisanta.
Sporting the colours of OTI Racing, Azazel was purchased at last year’s New Zealand Bloodstock Ready To Run Sale by Te Akau Racing’s David Ellis in conjunction with OTI, going to $140,000.
A winner of two of his three starts to date, Azazel has already banked A$151,250 in prizemoney and a tilt at the A$2million Derby now looms for which the gelding is a $9 chance.
“It’s a big relief, he obviously toughed it out well,” Walker’s Assistant Trainer Ben Gleeson said.
“When I saw that they slowed the pace, and it was going to be a sit and sprint, it was never going to suit this horse. Credit to Mick (Dee), he took off at the right time, and the horse was gallant.
“We’re thrilled to get this win for OTI, it’s our first stakes winner for them. They have given us two horses to use our craft with, and it's great to have this horse in the Derby for them. It’s very rare that a plan you plot at the beginning of spring, and that plan goes smoothly.
“He will love the 2500m, we bought him with that profile from a good family, so hopefully we get a strong run 2500m and a true staying test. He appreciates a bit of give in the ground, so hopefully there is a little bit of rain around next Saturday. If it’s a truly run race, we will be there at the finish.”
Winning rider Mick Dee made all the right moves with Azazel having 0.35 length to spare at the line.
“He doesn’t have a great turn of foot, but he really keeps grinding away,” Dee said.
“We did want to ride him a bit quieter to see more of a turn of foot today. But the way it panned out, we just had to go and put ourselves in the race.
“He is still a little bit green, and he is probably a horse that will never win by a huge margin, but he has a great will to win, and he has improved every time he has stepped out. He looked at a picture in the yard, and he will definitely give a site in the Derby.
“Ben said he has kept on improving, and he has plenty of improvement to come, so he is definitely going to be peaking on the right day.”
Azazel was bred by Anne Corcoran and was sold for $15,000 as a yearling at Karaka through the Corcoran family’s Grangewilliam Stud.
The 26th stakes winner for outstanding Rich Hill Stud stallion Shocking, Azazel is out of the Tavistock mare Alagant Angel, who in turn is out of the Group Two winner Alagant Satin. – NZ Racing Desk
