The Verdict: Stradbroke Handicap finds some Azkadellia action

AZKADELLIA has zoomed to the top of Stradbroke betting charts with her sizzling Coolmore Legacy (Queen of the Turf) win at Royal Randwick.

AZKADELLIA zoomed to the top of Stradbroke betting charts with her sizzling Coolmore Legacy (Queen of the Turf) win, but there were some other notable Brisbane carnival pointers at Randwick too.

Sportsbet and tab.com.au wound Azkadellia into $4.50 for the Stradbroke. UBET initially went to $6, before squeezing her into $5 on Saturday night.

The $1.5 million question now is whether Ciaron Maher can produce another peak performance in the second week of June, if he indeed elects to press on to Brisbane.

Always looming on the Queensland carnival front is Chris Waller and the result of the Arrowfield Sprint could be a pivotal one for this year’s carnival.

Japonisme earns automatic entry into the BTC Cup off the back of the win and he’s already proven at G1 WFA level, being unlucky in last month’s William Reid Stakes.

Runner-up Counterattack appeals as an ideal carnival prospect. He would have overhauled Japonisme in another stride and looks certain to run out the 1400m of the Stradbroke.

Curiously, his name wasn’t appearing in any of the available markets last night.

Malaguerra ($5.50) is still up challenging for favouritism, having an unblemished record so far this time in.

Bow Creek is also being kept safe by market framers, with Godolphin believed to be setting him for a fresh-up tilt on the famous 1400m handicap.

Azkadellia blows them away at Randwick. Picture: Simon Bullard

FRENCH IMPORT FINDS HIS FEET

JIMMY Orman had an armchair ride on impressive stayer Caillebotte at Doomben on Saturday to stitch up his 80th city win and outride his claim. “When I started riding, I never thought I would get this far, but about six months ago I set my sights on outriding the claim,” Orman said. “I just have to keep working hard now and keep riding winners.”

After being a flop in Victoria, Caillebotte is now starting to pay his way. “He came over from France and lost his way. His form in Melbourne was all over the place. It’s taken a few runs to get his head right, but now that he’s learnt to settle, he might be able to win a good race,” trainer Matt Dunn said.

Orman was impressed. “I was worried coming to the corner but he let down very fast. You don’t see that too often. It was a good win,” Orman said.

BETTER THIS TIME AROUND?

THE best performed horse at Doomben yesterday was Sir Moments and he showed he’s on target to at least replicate his feats from last year and perhaps go one better than his narrow second in the Hollindale Stakes. “They are the sort of races he loves. He loves to chase, he loves tempo and the weight didn’t worry him at all,” trainer Steve O’Dea said of yesterday’s win.

“I wouldn’t say he’s going better than last year, but he’s going at least the equal.” Sir Moments will be asked to carry plenty of weight again in a fortnight at Caloundra (Tails Stakes), before he heads south for another Hollindale tilt. Sir Moments’ win was welcomed by punters. He accounted for about 40 per cent of UBET’s fixed odds hold on the race.

NOT TOTALLY COMPOSED

ELEGANT Composure gave backers a fright when she banged her head on the gates and jammed Jim Byrne’s leg against the stalls before the last race. Vets cleared her to start, but Byrne was thinking it may have been the wrong call soon after the jump. “She couldn’t go the early speed, so I had to revert to Plan B and just let her find her feet and make sure she had a trouble free run,” Byrne said. “She’s done a big job to win after what happened before the start.”

Robbie Fradd isn’t convinced the better mare won and told connections Oradonna would turn the tables once “we get over there (Eagle Farm)”.

DODGING BULLETS

The Kelly Schweida stable landed the big Queensland two-year-old double on Saturday, but had to withstand protests in both races.

BARRIER-GATE

VANDALS tried to cause havoc with Saturday’s Gympie meeting, spray painting the barrier stalls and attempting to damage the structure. Fortunately, stewards reported the gates made it through the meeting without a glitch.

Holding form: Sir Moments winning at Doomben on Saturday. Picture: Grant Peters, Trackside Photography

Originally published as The Verdict: Stradbroke Handicap finds some Azkadellia action