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| Staff Writer |
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Queen Azteca stormed into Derby contention with a scintillating performance in last month's UAE Oaks, providing a career highlight for jockey Carlos Lopez and putting Scandinavia firmly on the Dubai racing map.
The filly, trained by Niels Petersen, displayed tremendous courage when reeling in pacesetter Arigatou Gozaimasu by three-quarters of a length in the Group Three contest on February 21, a victory that left her 43-year-old Chilean-born rider overflowing with emotion.
"It was amazing, exciting," says Lopez, who moved to Denmark from Chile in 2000. "When the horse in front of me took off on the bend I thought I wasn't going to catch her, but my filly was very brave, and she caught her on the line.
"The Oaks is my biggest win. I won a Group Three in Germany, too, but this is very special – I have it in my heart."
The Petersen-trained filly, purchased by her trainer and Edgar Byrne at the Tattersalls Guineas Sale for just US$39,390, has shown herself to be a real battler.
"She's so calm normally but she's a fighter and she have character. When she gets angry, she gets angry!" Lopez explains.
Queen Azteca will need every ounce of that fighting spirit when taking on the colts in the Gr.2 UAE Derby on Saturday, April 5. She'll be the lone Scandinavian representative on the Dubai World Cup card and provides Lopez with his first ride on the prestigious night.
"This is my first time in the Dubai World Cup meeting, so I'm excited," he says. "I have a very nice horse and there will be a strong pace which will suit her as she never gives up. I think we will see more from her this time.
"I think the whole of Scandinavia is looking forward to this day."