Written by Trent Masenhelder
Cover image courtesy of Racing Photos
The Lindsay Park team look to have a nice 3-year-old on their hands, with Pierro gelding Aztec State - a close relation to the 2015 G1 Melbourne Cup hero Fiorente (Ire) - making a winning start to his career at Bendigo.
Well in the market following an impressive trial win at Wodonga on September 12, Aztec State pressed forward from his wide draw (barrier nine) in the 1500-metre maiden under Michael Dee. The gelding took over from runaway leader Et Tu Brute (Dundeel {NZ}) 200 metres from home and withstood a powerful challenge from race favourite Roll On High (Shamus Award) to score by 0.2l.
“The plan wasn’t actually to be up on speed. He jumped really well and we were wide early… we seemed to be there comfortably, so I decided to press on so I wasn’t sitting three-wide,” Dee told Racing.com.
“I always knew that he would keep finding and that he did. He’s one that’s going to get out over further.
“I always knew that he (Aztec State) would keep finding and that he did. He’s one that’s going to get out over further.” - Michael Dee
“It was good to be able to fight off those challengers.
“I felt the second horse got to us quite quickly and I actually felt he was going to go past, but to my horse’s credit he fought hard and he was pretty good through the line, so I would say no trouble going further. He’s going to furnish a bit more, improve in his coat, and I’m sure there’s plenty more in store.”
Aztec State was bred by Yulong Stud and it offered him at the 2022 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale. He was passed in after failing to meet his reserve price of $80,000.
Aztec State as a yearling | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
The 3-year-old is from the unraced Redoute’s Choice mare Arizona Belle (Ire) and she herself is a three-quarter sister to the stakes performer Pivoine (Ire) (Redoute’s Choice) and a half-sister to Fiorente, as well as Roshanak (Ire) (Spinning World {USA}) - the dam of the dual Listed scorer and Group 1 placegetter Tom Melbourne (Ire) (Dylan Thomas {Ire}) and the Listed victress Araaja (Ire) (Iffraaj {GB}).
Yulong went to $375,000 for Arizona Belle at the 2019 Magic Millions National Broodmare Sale. In foal to Pierro, she was offered by Yarraman Park Stud. Arizona Belle has a 2-year-old filly named Havasu Falls (Lonhro), who is with Annabel Neasham at Randwick, and a Lucky Vega (Ire) yearling filly. The mare was again covered by Lucky Vega last spring.
