Bigger days loom for Azazat Azazat rewarded those who played the 4/6 odds with a convincing success in the Captain Dara Fitzpatrick Memorial Maiden over a mile and a half at Leopardstown. The favourite moved ominously well in third behind the leader Queenstown who had skipped a few lengths clear over a quarter of a mile from home. Colin Keane gave Azazat the office to sweep past Queenstown on the run to the final furlong and from there the result wasn't in doubt. She began to draw clear inside the final furlong and kept up the gallop to hit the line with just under five lengths in hand. Queenstown had no answers, but kept on for second at 18/1 with newcomer St Vincents Garden making eye-catching late headway to get up for third at 8/1. Assistant trainer Kris Weld said: “Colin was very happy with her. We took a gamble on two fronts, firstly taking on the colts and secondly with the rain overnight turning the ground close to heavy wasn’t ideal for her. “They are getting through it and the timing of the race suited well so we let her take her chance. “She’s entered in the Ribblesdale and the Oaks. We’ll take it step by step and maybe a race like the Naas Oaks Trial might fit in her programme. She’s a nice filly going forward.” This brought up a double for Aga Khan Studs after Sharlouk took the opener. Paddy Power cut Azazat from 40/1 to 25/1 for the Oaks. Additional reporting by Alan Magee
