The Snitzel debutant Axzelina defied her inexperience when she snatched victory from what looked inevitable defeat in the Ladbrokes Racing Club Hcp (1000m) at Sandown-Hillside on Saturday.
Ridden by Linda Meech for Ciaron Maher and David Eustace, Axzelina raced on the speed set by Buy Me A Birkin. As quickly as she hit the lead, Axzelina came under severe pressure from the fast-finishing Austmarr. When that daughter of Exosphere levelled up, Axzelina began to rally. She fought back to defeat Austmarr by a short-head with the Shamexpress filly Mislead two and a quarter lengths back in third.
“She is a tough little filly, there is not a lot of her, but she will grow and strengthen,” stable representative Jack Turnbull said.
“She was left in front early, and Godolphin’s horse looked set to sweep on by, but she dug deep and got there first.”
Bred by Alan Galbraith, Axzelina was a $310,000 purchase for Ciaron Maher Bloodstock from the Willow Park Stud draft at the 2022 Inglis Premier Yearling Sale.
A half-sister to Newhaven Park Stud’s Group 1 New Zealand 2000 Guineas and Group 1 Waikato Sprint winner Xtravagant (Pentire) and Group III winner and multiple Group 1 placed He’s Remarkable (Pentire), Axzelina is the seventh winner from nine to race for the unraced Zabeel mare Axiom.
A daughter of the top-class multiple Group winner Arletty (Centaine), Axiom has a weanling filly by Too Darn Hot (GB) and revisited Darley’s triple Group 1 winning son of Dubawi last spring.
Axzelina is the twelfth 2yo winner of the season for Champion 2yo stallion elect Snitzel.
