Sapphire Stakes

Winners and Past Results.

The Australian Turf Club holds a number of black type meetings at Randwick Racecourse in Sydney during the autumn racing carnival. This includes the Group 2 Sapphire Stakes for fillies and mares run over a distance of 1200 metres of the Randwick track under set weight & penalty conditions. Free $250 Bet

The race attracts more than just the handy females who may come in from major Group 1 events such as the Coolmore Stud Classic and Queen Of The Turf Stakes held earlier in the carnival. The Sapphire Stakes is worth $175,000 in prize money and usually witnesses a few classy sprinters and milers coming under the starter's orders. Adding to the excitement of the day are major Group ones which includes the ATC Australian Derby, ATC Sires Produce Stakes, and TJ Smith Stakes. This leaves punters an opportunity to spread their wagers over the day and find enough winners at the right price in order to achieve a level stakes profit.

Run over the same distance and track in April on Rosehill Guineas Day, the Group 3 Birthday Card Stakes often serves as a handy form guide. Court finished third in the event before winning the 2009 Sapphire Stakes. Renaissance was sixth in the Birthday Card Stakes prior to winning in 2010. Beaded finished as runner up in both events in 2010. Kimillsy finished fourth in 2011 prior to finishing runner up in the Sapphire Stakes.

A few may come in from listed events around the region. Hurtle Myrtle was unplaced in the 1400 metre Wiggle Stakes at Warwick Farm prior to winning here. She later trounced her opposition convincingly in the 1400 M Group 2 Dane Ripper Stakes at Eagle Farm in June. Horses may also fancy their chances in the Group 3 BTC Classic at Doomben Races in May over a distance of 1350 metres. Court in 2009 went on to win the event before finishing unplaced in the Dane Ripper Stakes.

The Sapphire Stakes has been conducted by the Australian Turf Club since 1998. It began as a listed race and was soon promoted to Group 3 in 2002. A flow of classy fillies and mares soon made it a Group 2 event in 2006. It was held as the AJC Lady S McMahon Stakes in 2010. Spinning Hill is the only horse so far to score back to back victories in 2000-2001.

2012 Sapphire Stakes

Atlantic Jewel returned to the track better than ever with a sensational performance in this Group 2 race over 1200 metres. The superstar filly raced four wide and without cover in the early part of the race, with jockey Michael Rodd unable to get her any closer to the rail. This mattered little to Atlantic Jewel who looked to be in cruise control as she drew level with the front-runners and then ran away from them in the straight with the greatest of ease. She was just coasting as she went past the post nearly four lengths clear of Mid Summer Music, who finished just ahead of Lady's Angel.

2012 Sapphire Stakes result

1. Atlantic Jewel
2. Mid Summer Music
3. Lady's Angel

Then came:

4. Parables
5. Celts
6. Rose Of Peace
7. More Strawberries
8. Graceful Anna
9. Phenomenal Lass
10. Born To Rock