It's hard to overestimate the impact Queen Azteca's UAE Oaks (G3) win had on jockey Carlos Lopez.
It was huge for Chilean-born Lopez and his adopted homeland, the racing conglomerate of Scandinavia. The jockey has won nine Derbys and—in his words—"all the big races in Scandinavia," but Queen Azteca's reeling in of pacesetter Arigatou Gozaimasu by a dramatic three-quarters of a length Feb. 21 was a career highlight.
"It was amazing, exciting," said the 43-year-old, 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 3 in Germany, too, but this is very special—I have it in my heart."
Of the Niels Petersen-trained Queen Azteca, who was purchased by her trainer and Edgar Byrne at the 2024 Tattersalls Guineas Breeze Up and HIT Sale for just 30,000 guineas, he added: "She's so calm normally but she's a fighter and she has character. When she gets angry, she gets angry!"
Queen Azteca, bred in Kentucky by Three Chimneys Farm, will need that fighting spirit and much more when she takes on a field of colts in the UAE Derby (G2) April 5. She will be the lone Scandinavian on the card, and a first ride on the big night for Lopez.
"This is my first time in the Dubai World Cup meeting, so I'm excited," he said. "I have a very nice horse and I (think) 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."
Queen Azteca is by Sharp Azteca, a Kentucky-bred son of Freud and winner of the 2017 Cigar Mile Handicap (G1) at Aqueduct Racetrack. Sharp Azteca stood at Three Chimneys Farm near Versailles, Ky., from 2019-23. He led all North American freshman sires by number of winners with 34 in 2022.
Sharp Azteca was sold to the Japan Bloodhorse Breeders Association in October 2023 and moved to Shizunai Stallion Station on Hokkaido, Japan, for the 2024 breeding season.
This press release has been edited for content and style by BloodHorse Staff.
