Queen Azteca looms large in UAE Oaks

Feb 20, 2025 Kellie Reilly/Brisnet.com

The lone international race on the Road to the Kentucky Oaks, Friday’s UAE Oaks (G3) at Meydan, features a heavy favorite in Queen Azteca.

Bred by Three Chimneys Farm in Kentucky, Queen Azteca is a direct maternal descendant of unbeaten Hall of Famer Personal Ensign. She initially raced in Norway and Sweden before wintering in Dubai for trainer Niels Petersen. Her only losses have come in sprints, and she’s dominated both starts at a metric mile, suggesting that the about 1 3/16-mile distance of the UAE Oaks will suit her well.

Queen Azteca most recently conquered a Jan. 17 conditions race at Meydan, dubbed the Cocoa Beach S., by eight lengths. Not only was her margin impressive, but also her style. The Sharp Azteca filly rallied from the back of the pack, blew past pacesetter Arigatou Gozaimasu in the stretch, and rapidly ran up the score late.

Six of the Cocoa Beach vanquished hope that a different race dynamic in the UAE Oaks can give them a shot at turning the tables. A scorching pace that day set it up perfectly for Queen Azteca’s closing kick, and a more moderate tempo over the longer trip could help their chances. Still, they’ve got quite a bridge to gap.

Oh. My. Goodness! 😱

What a run from 𝐐𝐔𝐄𝐄𝐍 𝐀𝐙𝐓𝐄𝐂𝐀 in the Cocoa Beach Stakes, sponsored by @LandRover 💨

And what a triumph for trainer Niels Petersen 🇳🇴 and jockey Carlos Lopez 🫡#DubaiCarnival pic.twitter.com/yZHGHIrTY8

— Dubai Racing Club (@RacingDubai) January 17, 2025

Taswaheen, who stayed on for second in the Cocoa Beach, has claims to stay the trip as a daughter of 2018 UAE Derby (G2) romper Mendelssohn. Arigatou Gozaimasu, a fading third in the Cocoa Beach, has shown so much speed in her races that she’ll need to slow down to conserve energy for the finish. The respective fourth, fifth, sixth, and eighth from the Cocoa Beach – Ruby Hamilton, Mistysea, Salsabil Princess, and Reina Rosso – must engineer an even bigger form reversal.

Rounding out the field is Parisian Beauty, who has been well beaten in her three starts.

The UAE Oaks, which offers points on the 50-25-15-10-5 format to the top five finishers, is slated as the fourth race at 10:15 a.m. ET. None of the entrants was made eligible for the Kentucky Oaks by the early deadline, but they do have an opportunity at the supplemental stage.

The UAE Oaks winner can come under consideration for the UAE Derby, the climax of the Euro/Mideast Road to the Kentucky Derby on April 5. But the definite stepping stone to the UAE Derby is Friday’s Al Bastakiya, also contested at the same about 1 3/16-mile trip.

Heart of Honor, a closing second in the UAE 2000 Guineas (G3) over a metric mile, is the one to beat. The Jamie Osborne trainee had won his prior two starts at Meydan convincingly, and as a son of 2020 Santa Anita Derby (G1) star Honor A. P., he’s eligible to appreciate the added ground.

Several others are advancing from the Guineas, notably third-placer Royal Favour and fifth Rafid. Royal Favour is by 2007 Kentucky Derby (G1) runner-up Hard Spun. Rafid, who was running at Gulfstream Park before his export to Dubai, is a son of Into Mischief and Rayya, the 2018 UAE Oaks winner and UAE Derby second.

Undefeated was no match for Heart of Honor earlier in the Dubai Carnival, but he improved dramatically when stepping up in distance last time out. The son of red-hot young sire Vekoma romped by seven lengths here on Jan. 31.

The Al Bastakiya is the second race at 9:05 a.m. ET, and you can watch and wager on the action from Meydan at TwinSpires.com.