Carnival Capers: Azkadellia makes magnates of men

NATHAN Exelby and Ben Dorries preview the Doomben 10,000 in the latest edition of Carnival Capers.

Doomben 10,000 entrant Music Magnate.

NATHAN Exelby and Ben Dorries preview the Doomben 10,000 in the latest edition of Carnival Capers.

NATHAN: I assume you were genuinely torn with your 10,000 selections. You’ve shadowed Ciaron Maher for the past two years, but we have all noted the love you have shown Bjorn Baker this winter. Must have been difficult for you to split Azkadellia and Music Magnate?

BEN: To be honest, it came down to who I thought would buy me the more lavish dinner. Bjorn was telling me last week he’s a champagne and lobster man, so that will do me. In all seriousness, it’s a long way from the strongest Doomben 10,000 I’ve seen. What do you make of it?

NATHAN: The depth doesn’t look to be there and maybe officials need to look at innovations to attract headliners to Queensland these days with the competition from Hong Kong and Royal Ascot. If Chautauqua is the benchmark for sprinters, we have Delectation, who toppled him, and Fell Swoop, who ran second to him. Then there’s Azkadellia, who may well be a star. That’s how I see the race. One of those will win. As for the support program, I think it’s a ripper, with a really good Sires, Mackintosh taking on the SA Derby winner in the Grand Prix and Ghisoni lighting up the Glenlogan, although I note you tipped against her.

BEN: I’ve got no knock on Ghisoni. I just think Amicus has been there and done that, having won a Group 1, and she is at better odds. I know you are desperate for Ghisoni to win Nathan, because she is the only one of the three tips you gave us in week one still standing. And they call me the mock.

NATHAN: With due respect, your reputation has been well earned over a number of years, not a few weeks. I would love to see Ghisoni win with a leg in the air, so she can convince both the handicapper (who has her about 50th at the moment) and connections that she deserves a shot at the Stradbroke. She and Mackintosh look the good things of the program.

BEN: Thanks Scoop, another two shorties. If the first few Carnival weeks have shown us anything (apart from your tips being a disaster) it’s that you can be rewarded if you shrewdly shop for value. With that in mind, Akavoroun trialled like a star at Eagle Farm recently and I think he can finally burst back into the winner’s circle at good odds in the Lord Mayor’s Cup.

NATHAN: ‘‘Shrewd’’ is not a word you should associate yourself with. I understand your affection for Akavoroun though. His last win 685 days ago probably coincides with the anniversary of the last winner you backed.

Originally published as Carnival Capers: Azkadellia makes magnates of men