When Anthony Azzopardi drove out Wentworth Park on March 17 this year, he had an extra two passengers in his vehicle … disappointment and frustration.
Azzopardi’s promising bitch Blue Sky Riot had been considered one of the favourites for the Golden Easter Egg series, but within 20m of the start of her heat, she had lost one thing - her chance for the Egg - but found another … a devastating injury.
At first Azzopardi thought it was a tendon injury. Unfortunately he soon discovered it was far more serious.
“We thought it was a tendon injury when we were going home, but when she cooled down properly, I had Xrays done and it was just a mess,” Azzopardi said. “The first couple of strides she slipped off the mat and went sideways and a dog pushed her out, and she was off balance at the wrong time … that’s all.
“She originally cracked a hock, and she had torn a calf muscle then she did an achilles.
“Then, when I got her back from injury, she was absolutely flying and actually equaled a track record down here (in Victoria) and then she did all her stomach muscles.
“That’s why it took us a while to get her back and why she’s been off the scene for so long, but … touch wood, she’s going really well now.”
A win in the Group 1 National Futurity at Wentworth Park, a victory over Striker Light at the Meadows, then successive defeats of Up Hill Jill in the Richmond Oaks heat and final – she also beat Miss Splendamiro in the final - and everyone was talking about Blue Sky Riot.
The Easter Egg was next on the agenda, but it wasn’t to be.
“It was frustrating because she was matching it with Striker Light and Up Hill Jill and beating them quite easily. It was her turn to shine but unfortunately the injuries got to her,” Azzopardi said. “It was pretty disappointing but what do you do? That’s racing.”
On Thursday night Blue Sky Riot returns, not at Wentworth Park nor the Meadows or Sandown, but at Wagga Wagga.
She will contest the opening heat of the GRNSW + Ladbrokes Million Dollar Chase, not an event that her kennel had targeted, but one which fit nicely into their plans.
“It did just fit in nicely. She trialed really good there, and the schedule was just right. And then if we can get a good month of racing into her, I know she’ll stand up after that with the good fitness under her belt,” Azzopardi said.
If she advances through the heats and then makes her way through the final finishing one or two, she will book a berth in the series’ semi-finals to be run at Wentworth Park on October 12. If that is the way it pans out, Blue Sky Riot will visit Wenty in the lead-up to the semis, for one more run to top her off.
The kennel will also be taking Zipping Olympia to Wagga Wagga for the heats.
“She’s our second stringer. She holds her own, she’s only little, but she has a lot of ability. I reckon her heat will suit her. She just keeps coming all the time,” Azzopardi said.
Azzopardi’s Paws Of Thunder winner Raw Ability, will also contest the Million Dollar Chase series, but via a different route.
“I’ll see how he goes on Sunday in the Healesville Cup Final, but hopefully he pulls up fine, then I’ll go for the Megastar (at Dapto) then onto the Wentworth Park ones (City Qualifying races).”
