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The Sapphire Stakes is a Group 2 race held at Royal Randwick in April on Day 2 of 'The Championships' during the Sydney Autumn Racing Carnival.
Sapphire Stakes News
The ATC Sapphire Stakes – not to be confused with Melbourne’s Group 3 Blue Sapphire Stakes – is a quality Group 2 race held towards the tail end of the esteemed Sydney Autumn Racing Carnival on Day 2 of ‘The Championships’ at Royal Randwick Racecourse.
2026 Sapphire Stakes Odds
| 5. In Flight (1) J: Craig Williams56kg 64×78T: Joseph Pride | ||
| 2. Infancy (12) J: Jason Collett57kg 868×0T: Kris Lees | ||
| 3. Gangsta Granny (11) J: James McDonald56.5kg 13×12T: M, W & J Hawkes | ||
| 11. More Territories (6) J: Dylan Gibbons55kg 06×50T: Tom Charlton | ||
| 10. Monte Supreme (9) J: Kerrin Mcevoy55kg 20×67T: Bjorn Baker | ||
| 7. Coco Jamboo (3) J: Ben Thompson56kg 650×0T: Annabel & Rob Archibald | ||
| 1. Splash Back (2) J: Jordan Childs57kg 5128xT: Grahame Begg | ||
| 12. Spring Lee (7) J: Rachel King55kg 8×803T: Bjorn Baker | ||
| 6. Flying For Fun (10) J: Zac Lloyd56kg 271×1T: Bryce Heys | ||
| 13. Monte Kate (8) J: Jamie Melham55kg 02112T: Robert & Luke Price | ||
| 14. Husk (4) J: Tyler Schiller55kg 3109xT: M, W & J Hawkes | ||
| 4. Catch The Glory (5) J: Adam Hyeronimus56.5kg 2x1x1T: Jason Coyle |
Run on the second Saturday of April the Sapphire Stakes is a 1200m sprint run under set weights plus penalties by a field of fillies and mares. Offering $300,000 in prize money the race is conducted on the same day as four Group 1 autumn features.
The autumn’s richest race – the Group 1 $5 million Queen Elizabeth Stakes (2000m) – headlines the meeting and is joined by the Sydney Cup (3200m), ATC Oaks (2400m), the Queen Of The Turf Stakes (1600m) plus a host of Group 2 and 3 status support races.
Female sprinters may come into the Sapphire Stakes field via an earlier autumn run in the Group 3 Birthday Card Stakes (1200m) held at Rosehill in March on Golden Slipper Stakes Day. Held on Day 1 of ‘The Championships’ just a week before the Sapphire Stakes, the Group 3 PJ Bell Stakes (1200m) is another good lead-up.
The Birthday Card Stakes – Sapphire Stakes double was most recently completed by Quilista (2018) and Zapateo (2023).
A nice next-up option for Sapphire Stakes graduates could be the Group 3 Hawkesbury Crown (1300m) later in the month, a race the 2016 Sapphire Stakes winner Two Blue finished runner-up in. Fillies and mares may also come back and contest a harder race like the Group 1 BTC Cup (1200m) over the Brisbane Winter Racing Carnival or head to Adelaide for the Group 1 Robert Sangster Stakes (1200m). Secret Agenda (2017) was the last mare to do the Sapphire Stakes – Robert Sangster Stakes double.
The form of the 2021 Sapphire Stakes was franked with the runner-up Entriviere going on to win the Group 2 Sheraco Stakes (1200m) in Sydney that spring and the New Zealand’s Group 1 Railway Stakes (1600m) the following January.
The 2022 Sapphire Stakes form was franked with the winner Bella Nipotina returning in the spring to win the Group 1 Manikato Stakes (1200m) at Moonee Valley.
The Sapphire Stakes 2023 winner Zapateo went on to run third in both the Group 1 Robert Sangster Stakes and Group 1 The Goodwood results in Adelaide at her next two starts. She went on to run well in a host of other events including her Group 1 The Galaxy victory in Sydney in the autumn of 2024.
The 2025 Sapphire Stakes form was franked by the runner-up, Commemorative, finishing a next-up third in the Robert Sangster Stakes trifecta.
The ATC Sapphire Stakes 2026 ran on Saturday April 11, 2026 at Royal Randwick as part of Day 2 of The Championships and was won in an impressive upset by the Joe Pride-trained In Flight ($15) who flashed home late in an eye-catching return to form.
| 2026 Sapphire Stakes | |
|---|---|
| Date: | Saturday April 11, 2026 |
| Track: | Royal Randwick Racecourse, Sydney |
| Distance: | 1200m |
| Conditions: | Fillies & Mares, Set Weights + Penalties |
| Status: | Group 2 |
| Prizemoney: | $300,000 |
| Inaugurated: | 1998 |
2026 Sapphire Stakes Results
Stay tuned for the official 2026 Sapphire Stakes results and finishing order at Randwick on Saturday April 11, 2026.
- 1st: No. 5 In Flight ($15)
- 2nd: No. 2 Infancy
- 3rd: No. 3 Gangsta Granny
Winning Margin: 0.77 lengths
Winning Time: 1:09.92
Jockey Craig Williams capped off a memorable Day 2 of The Championships with his peach of a ride to get the Joe Pride-trained Flying Artie mare In Flight ($15) back in the winner’s stall in an upset 2026 Sapphire Stakes result. Working into the clear from an off-pace ride on the home straight, In Flight stormed through the middle inside the 100m sprinting off with an impressive and fast-finishing effort to deny Infancy by three-quarters of a length with Gangsta Granny running third as the beaten favourite. In Flight is now Brisbane-bound for a potential shot at the Group 1 Doomben 10,000.
2026 Sapphire Stakes Betting
The latest Sapphire Stakes 2026 betting odds on the Randwick Group 2 for fillies and mares this autumn will be available here at Races.com.au as soon as released by Ladbrokes.com.au.
Zapateo ($2.30 in 2023) was the last Sapphire Stakes favourite to win.
There was a notable upset in 2025 with Infancy saluting at Sapphire Stakes odds of $19, and again in 2026 with In Flight winning at a starting price of $15.
2026 Sapphire Stakes Form
CLICK HERE FOR THE FULL 2026 SAPPHIRE STAKES FORM GUIDE
2026 Sapphire Stakes Tips
Stay tuned for our insider Sapphire Stakes 2026 Tips on the Randwick sprint this April.
To Win: No. 3 Gangsta Granny
GANGSTA GRANNY (13) is drawn near the carpark yet again but remains the one to beat in the last on Day 2 of The Championships for mine. Team Hawkes’ in-form Written Tycoon four-year-old resumed a three-quarter length winner of the Group 3 Wenona Girl Quality at the track and trip with 58.5kg giving the weight away from another wide alley in a brave on speed performance. While she didn’t go back-to-back eventually running second at her latest in the Group 3 Star Kingdom at Rosehill, she faced a huge task with 59kg from gate 16 of 16 and never gave up. No luck again gate-wise once more but she’s proven very effective even wide out and will relish coming back to 56.5kg more evenly weighted than she’s been all prep. Ace hoop James McDonald sticks with and she’s got the form, fitness and ability to bounce back. Wins.
|
3. Gangsta Granny (11)
J: James McDonald56.5kg
13×12T: M, W & J Hawkes
|
2026 Sapphire Stakes Field
The ATC Sapphire Stakes field attracts a class line-up of fillies and mares looking to see out their prep with a lucrative Group 2 win or wind-up for a Group 1 target in Brisbane over the winter.
The official Sapphire Stakes 2026 field and barriers will be published in full below on the Wednesday of race week so stay tuned.
The 2026 Sapphire Stakes final field features 14 classy fillies and mares led in betting by the widely drawn Team Hawkes trained Gangsta Granny out to return to winning form off her lead-up second in the Group 3 Star Kingdom Stakes.
| No | Last 10 | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Barrier | Weight | Probable Weight | Penalty | Hcp Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | x11525128x | SPLASH BACK (FR) | Grahame Begg | Jordan Childs | 2 | 57kg | Â | Â | 104 |
| 2 | 1556x868x0 | INFANCY | Kris Lees | Jason Collett | 14 | 57kg | Â | Â | 98 |
| 3 | 13x2313x12 | GANGSTA GRANNY | Michael, John & Wayne Hawkes | James McDonald | 13 | 56.5kg | Â | Â | 108 |
| 4 | x82312x1x1 | CATCH THE GLORY | Jason Coyle | Adam Hyeronimus | 5 | 56.5kg | Â | Â | 102 |
| 5 | 2211164×78 | IN FLIGHT | Joseph Pride | Craig Williams | 1 | 56kg | Â | Â | 107 |
| 6 | 52x83271x1 | FLYING FOR FUN | Bryce Heys | Zac Lloyd | 10 | 56kg | Â | Â | 104 |
| 7 | 609x5650x0 | COCO JAMBOO (IRE) | Annabel & Rob Archibald | Ben Thompson | 3 | 56kg | Â | Â | 90 |
| 8 | 210x76Lx53 | SHE’S GOT PIZZAZZ | Peter G Moody & Katherine Coleman | Luke Nolen | 11 | 56kg |  |  | 86 |
| 9 | 9x441777x7 | TIGER SHARK | Clayton Douglas | Â | 12 | 55kg | Â | Â | 98 |
| 10 | 0x11120x67 | MONTE SUPREME | Bjorn Baker | Kerrin McEvoy | 9 | 55kg | Â | Â | 95 |
| 11 | 62x8306x50 | MORE TERRITORIES | Tom Charlton | Dylan Gibbons | 6 | 55kg | Â | Â | 90 |
| 12 | 6145x8x803 | SPRING LEE | Bjorn Baker | Ms Rachel King | 7 | 55kg | Â | Â | 90 |
| 13 | 9150×02112 | MONTE KATE | Robert & Luke Price | Ms Jamie Melham | 8 | 55kg | Â | Â | 86 |
| 14 | 4290x3109x | HUSK | Michael, John & Wayne Hawkes | Tyler Schiller | 4 | 55kg | Â | Â | 78 |
Table Credit: Racing Australia.
2026 Sapphire Stakes Nominations
The Sapphire Stakes 2026 nominations are taken on the Monday of race week with the full list of early entries to be published below.
| Â | Last 10 | Horse | Sex | Age | Trainer | Hcp Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | x420436x30 | ASGARDA | M | 6 | John Sargent | 86 |
| 2 | 3x695636x2 | BOSSY NIC | M | 5 | Tony & Calvin McEvoy | 93 |
| 3 | x82312x1x1 | CATCH THE GLORY | M | 4 | Jason Coyle | 102 |
| 4 | 609x5650x0 | COCO JAMBOO (IRE) | M | 6 | Annabel & Rob Archibald | 90 |
| 5 | 55706×4388 | DARK GLITTER | M | 5 | Mike Van Gestel | 90 |
| 6 | 52x83271x1 | FLYING FOR FUN | M | 4 | Bryce Heys | 104 |
| 7 | 13x2313x12 | GANGSTA GRANNY | M | 4 | Michael, John & Wayne Hawkes | 108 |
| 8 | 335x937x15 | GENEROSITY | M | 5 | Chris Waller | 113 |
| 9 | 4290x3109x | HUSK | M | 4 | Michael, John & Wayne Hawkes | 78 |
| 10 | 2211164×78 | IN FLIGHT | M | 5 | Joseph Pride | 107 |
| 11 | 1556x868x0 | INFANCY | M | 5 | Kris Lees | 98 |
| 12 | 9150×02112 | MONTE KATE | M | 5 | Robert & Luke Price | 86 |
| 13 | 0x11120x67 | MONTE SUPREME | M | 5 | Bjorn Baker | 95 |
| 14 | 62x8306x50 | MORE TERRITORIES | M | 4 | Tom Charlton | 90 |
| 15 | 42x111x16 | NESRINE | M | 4 | Jason Attard | 75 |
| 16 | 210x76Lx53 | SHE’S GOT PIZZAZZ | M | 4 | Peter G Moody & Katherine Coleman | 86 |
| 17 | 725x270x83 | SOFT LOVE | M | 4 | Matt Laurie | 84 |
| 18 | x11525128x | SPLASH BACK (FR) | M | 6 | Grahame Begg | 104 |
| 19 | 6145x8x803 | SPRING LEE | M | 5 | Bjorn Baker | 90 |
| 20 | 9x441777x7 | TIGER SHARK | M | 5 | Clayton Douglas | 98 |
Table Credit: Racing Australia.
Sapphire Stakes History
First run in 1998 the inaugural Sapphire Stakes was won by What Can I Say. It began as a Listed race run over 1200m. The event gained Group 3 status in 2002 and not long after reached Group 2 status in 2006. Up until 2016 it ran as a Group 2 race before being downgraded back to a Group 3 autumn event for 2017 and then returned to Group 2 status for 2018.
Plenty of quality mares have won the Sapphire Stakes including Court (2009), Atlantic Jewel (2012) and Cosmic Endeavour (2014).
In 2020 White Moss continued her excellent record in the race, the 2018 third placegetter and 2019 champion becoming the second two-time Sapphire Stakes winner in the race’s history.
| Sapphire Stakes Records: | |
|---|---|
| Race Record: | 1:08.9 set by Atlantic Jewel in 2012 |
| Most Successful Jockey: | R.S. Dye claimed three successive Sapphire Stakes with What Can I Say (1998), Little Pattie (1999) and Spinning Hill (2000). |
| Multiple Winners: | Spinning Hill (2000 & 2001), White Moss (2019 & 2020) |
Recent Sapphire Stakes Winners
See below for a full list of Sapphire Stakes winners and results going back to 2000.
| Year | Place | Horse | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 Sapphire Stakes | 1st | In Flight | 1 minute 9.02 seconds |
| 2nd | Infancy | ||
| 3rd | Gangsta Granny | ||
| 2025 Sapphire Stakes | 1st | Infancy | 1 minute 9.24 seconds |
| 2nd | Commemorative | ||
| 3rd | Lady Laguna | ||
| 2024 Sapphire Stakes | 1st | Wee Nessy | 1 minute 9.04 seconds |
| 2nd | Ballroom Bella | ||
| 3rd | Miss Hellfire | ||
| 2023 Sapphire Stakes | 1st | Zapateo | 1 minute 11.28 seconds |
| 2nd | Never Talk | ||
| 3rd | Princess Grace | ||
| 2022 Sapphire Stakes | 1st | Bella Nipotina | 1 minute 14.55 seconds |
| 2nd | Tricky Gal | ||
| 3rd | Belluci Babe | ||
| 2021 Sapphire Stakes | 1st | Fasika | 1 minute 9.88 seconds |
| 2nd | Entriviere | ||
| 3rd | Wandabaa | ||
| 2020 Sapphire Stakes | 1st | White Moss | 1 minute 11.81 seconds |
| 2nd | Fasika | ||
| 3rd | Bangkok | ||
| 2019 Sapphire Stakes | 1st | White Moss | 1 minute 9.02 seconds |
| 2nd | Irithea | ||
| 3rd | Winter Bride | ||
| 2018 Sapphire Stakes | 1st | Quilista | 1 minute 9.38 seconds |
| 2nd | Ravi | ||
| 3rd | White Moss | ||
| 2017 Sapphire Stakes | 1st | Secret Agenda | 1 minute 13.2 seconds |
| 2nd | Missrock | ||
| 3rd | Artistry | ||
| 2016 Sapphire Stakes | 1st | Two Blue | 1 minute 10.8 seconds |
| 2nd | Secret Agenda | ||
| 3rd | Brook Road | ||
| 2015 Sapphire Stakes | 1st | Avoid Lightning | 1 minute 12.12 seconds |
| 2nd | Griante | ||
| 3rd | Fine Bubbles | ||
| 2014 Sapphire Stakes | 1st | Cosmic Endeavour | 1 minute 10.72 seconds |
| 2nd | Avoid Lightning | ||
| 3rd | Belle De Coeur | ||
| 2013 Sapphire Stakes | 1st | Arinosa | 1 minute 10.5 seconds |
| 2nd | Miss Stellabelle | ||
| 3rd | Forarainyday | ||
| 2012 Sapphire Stakes | 1st | Atlantic Jewel | 1 minute 08.9 seconds |
| 2nd | Mid Summer Music | ||
| 3rd | Lady’s Angel | ||
| 2011 Sapphire Stakes | 1st | Hurtle Myrtle | 1 minute 10.6 seconds |
| 2nd | Kimillsy | ||
| 3rd | Marquardt | ||
| 2010 Sapphire Stakes | 1st | Renaissance | 1 minute 10.5 seconds |
| 2nd | Beaded | ||
| 3rd | Jersey Lily | ||
| 2009 Sapphire Stakes | 1st | Court | 1 minute 10.84 seconds |
| 2nd | Belong To Many | ||
| 3rd | Cajou | ||
| 2008 Sapphire Stakes | 1st | Belong To Many | 1 minute 11.15 seconds |
| 2nd | Tenant?s Tiara | ||
| 3rd | Fritz?s Princess | ||
| 2007 Sapphire Stakes | 1st | Fire Song | 1 minute 12.98 seconds |
| 2nd | Whoever | ||
| 3rd | Splashing Out | ||
| 2006 Sapphire Stakes | 1st | Coolroom Candidate | 1 minute 10.61 seconds |
| 2nd | Imana | ||
| 3rd | Shalimar Sky | ||
| 2005 Sapphire Stakes | 1st | Glamour Puss | 1 minute 12.02 seconds |
| 2nd | With My | ||
| 3rd | Wild Queen | ||
| 2004 Sapphire Stakes | 1st | Recurring | 1 minute 10.47 seconds |
| 2nd | Fair Embrace | ||
| 3rd | Cataclysm | ||
| 2003 Sapphire Stakes | 1st | Fatoon | 1 minute 11.43 seconds |
| 2nd | Provokes | ||
| 3rd | Miss Helterskelter | ||
| 2002 Sapphire Stakes | 1st | Fair Embrace | 1 minute 9.23 seconds |
| 2nd | Spinning Hill | ||
| 3rd | Hot Riff | ||
| 2001 Sapphire Stakes | 1st | Spinning Hill | 1 minute 10.3 seconds |
| 2nd | Nanny Maroon | ||
| 3rd | Marlina | ||
| 2000 Sapphire Stakes | 1st | Spinning Hill | 1 minute 9.79 seconds |
| 2nd | Snippets? Lass | ||
| 3rd | Heather | ||
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