Befuddle first preference, but McGaw a handy back-up in The Showdown
There is no doubt about who David Azzopardi will be cheering loudest for in Saturday's $1 million The Showdown at Caulfield.
Azzopardi operates Dream Thoroughbreds, which will be represented by the John Sadler-trained Befuddle in the race that carries a $550,000 winner's cheque.
But the syndicator and breeder won't be able to help checking to see where a rival runner is in the 1200-metre event.
Azzopardi bred, and sold, one of the favourites for the 1200-metre event, the David and Emma-Lee Browne-trained Mcgaw.
"I'm obviously supporting Befuddle because she's in my colours, but if McGaw wins I wouldn't be too upset," Azzopardi said.
"Obviously, from a pocket point of view, Befuddle is going to be a good result for me with a winner's prize of $550,000 and it's a great opportunity for the owners.
"I know where she'll be, she'll be on-pace, and I expect McGaw will be out the back, but I'll be keeping an eye on both of them, that's for sure."
McGaw is by I Am Immortal, who carried the Dream Thoroughbreds colours to wins in a Blue Diamond Preview and Prelude, out of the Librettist mare Niki Piki Milo, who Dream Thoroughbreds secured for just $16,000 at the 2020 Magic Millions National Broodmare Sale.
Azzopardi sold McGaw through the Stonehouse Thoroughbreds draft for $14,000 at last year's Inglis Premier Yearling Sale, which was naturally less than what he was after, but McGaw has already added to the value of his mare.
He won brilliantly on debut at Pakenham, a month before this year's Premier Sale, where McGaw's sister sold to Trent Busuttin and Natalie Young for $160,000, which is a record for a product of I Am Immortal.
Niki Piki Milo last year had a filly by Supido who has been entered in the Inglis's Australian Weanling Sale, which will be held in May, while she is back in-foal to I Am Immortal.
Victory to McGaw would enhance the value of those horses, but it would also hold Befuddle in good stead even if there is no Black Type attached to the event restricted to VOBIS Gold-eligible horses by Victorian-based sires.
She is by Rosemont Stud stallion Hanseatic out of Absolute Puzzle, a daughter of Rubick who is a half-sister to Listed winner Poifect.
They are out of Without Exception, a daughter of Flying Spur, the champion stallion who appears further back on the pedigree page. Without Exception's granddam, American mare Islands, is a half-sister to Flying Spur's dam Rolls.
Azzopardi also bred Befuddle and bought back in after John Sadler's partner Shannan Shultz identified her at last year's Inglis Gold Sale in Melbourne, less than two months after she was offered and passed-in after failing to reach her $30,000 reserve at Inglis Premier.
That was the amount Befuddle was bought for at the Gold Sale.
"Without telling Shannan that I was the breeder of Befuddle, I said to her, ''which horses do you like?' and her top pick was Befuddle," Azzopardi recalled.
"So we purchased her in partnership with Sadler Racing at $30,000 and Shannan actually broke her in herself and they became pretty fond of the filly early on."
Befuddle finished sixth at big odds at her first two starts, but locked in her place in The Showdown with a dashing all-the-way win over 1200m at Moonee Valley on February 28.
Jye Mcneil rode her to victory that night and retains the ride on Saturday with the pair to jump from barrier six.
"I said to the owners before the barrier draw that if we draw one to six we're really in it with a big chance," Azzopardi said.
"I think the race is winnable, but she can run top-three without a shadow of a doubt.
"She's one of the only few horses that have run out the 1200, so I think she's in with a good chance."
Befuddle is a $15 chance in The Showdown market, which is headed by debut Bendigo winner Killiana at $3.10 from $4.40 chance McGaw.
