Queen Azteca

Queen Azteca (Sharp Azteca) delivered a come-from-behind masterclass in the 1900-metre G3 UAE Oaks presented by DP World at Meydan on Friday. It was the filly's first stakes win. She defeated stubborn pacesetter Arigatou Gozaimasu (Honest Mischief) by three-quarters of a length, with Taswaheen (Mendelssohn) 16 lengths back in third. Arigatou Gozaimasu passed Taswaheen to show the way into the first turn, with Queen Azteca saving every inch of ground against the rail in midpack. A touch keen, the pacesetter was under token pressure from Salsabil Princess (Honor Code) on...

A select field of five, anchored by Godolphin's GI Belmont Oaks Invitational Stakes heroine Cinderella's Dream (GB) (Shamardal), lines up in the 1800-metre G2 Balanchine on grass, the cornerstone of the Meydan programme on Friday. The GI Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf second will attempt to give trainer Charlie Appleby his seventh consecutive winner of the Balanchine. "We gave Cinderella's Dream a little break following the Breeders' Cup and she looks fresh and well," said Appleby of the GII Saratoga Oaks Invitational Stakes victress. "This will be her only...

6th-Meydan, Cocoa Beach S. (Cond.), AED400,000, NH/SH3yo, f, 1600m, 1:38.15, ft. QUEEN AZTECA (f, 3, Sharp Azteca--Princesa Helena, by Palace Malice) took advantage of a furious early gallop to storm clear late in this prep for the G3 UAE Oaks on Feb. 21. Void of early speed from the inside gate, the blinkered bay filly was content to race at the tail as Arigatou Gozaimazu (Honest Mischief) blazed a trail through the opening 400 metres in an unsustainable :21.54 while chased by favoured Flama Sunshine (Flameaway). Racing against the rail...

Godolphin's G3 Prix Imprudence heroine Romantic Style (Ire) (Night Of Thunder {Ire}) holds pride of place in Friday's AED850,000 G2 Cape Verdi Sponsored by Al Tayer Motors for fillies and mares. The 1600-metre Meydan turf feature will be the first start for the 4-year-old filly since a 12th-place finish in the G1 Prix Jean Prat on July 7. The start prior, she had wound up fourth in the G1 Poule d'Essai des Pouliches in May. "We are very pleased with Romantic Style heading into her seasonal return and her preparation...