2020 Darwin Cup Results: Ihtsahymn Goes Back-to-Back
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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.
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.
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 $4 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).
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 ATC Sapphire Stakes 2020 ran on Saturday April 11, 2020 and saw the reigning champ White Moss successfully defend her crown.
2020 Sapphire Stakes | |
---|---|
Date: | Saturday April 11, 2020 |
Track: | Royal Randwick Racecourse, Sydney |
Distance: | 1200m |
Conditions: | Fillies & Mares, Set Weights + Penalties |
Status: | Group 2 |
Prizemoney: | $300,000 |
Inaugurated: | 1998 |
The Sapphire Stakes 2020 results again went the way of the Jason Coyle-trained White Moss ($10) who, at double-figures, overcame a wide barrier 15 draw to successfully defend her title. After a third in 2018, White Moss won last year’s Sapphire Stakes and returned with a one length upset over the 2020 favourite Fasika ($3.40) to become the first back-to-back winner since Spinning Hill (2000-2001).
Place | # | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Margin | Barrier | Weight | SP |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 4 | WHITE MOSS | Jason Coyle | Nash Rawiller | – | 15 | 58kg | $10 |
2 | 7 | FASIKA | Joseph Pride | Brenton Avdulla | 1L | 14 | 56kg | $3.40F |
3 | 14 | BANGKOK | Allan Denham | Robbie Dolan (a) | 2.5L | 5 | 55kg | $26 |
4 | 6 | WINTER BRIDE | Toby & Trent Edmonds | Glyn Schofield | 3L | 13 | 56.5kg | $14 |
5 | 1 | I AM EXCITED | David Pfieffer | Tim Clark | 3.1L | 16 | 59kg | $21 |
6 | 3 | SAVATIANO | James Cummings | James McDonald | 3.2L | 3 | 58kg | $3.50 |
7 | 8 | MADAM ROUGE | Chris Waller | Ms Kathy O’Hara | 4.5L | 12 | 56kg | $51 |
8 | 12 | SOOTHING | James Cummings | Jason Collett | 4.7L | 8 | 55kg | $21 |
9 | 10 | MOSS TRIP | Peter & Paul Snowden | Joshua Parr | 5.3L | 1 | 56kg | $61 |
10 | 13 | CONNEMARA | Bjorn Baker | Adam Hyeronimus | 5.5L | 10 | 55kg | $81 |
11 | 9 | MANICURE | James Cummings | Kerrin McEvoy | 5.7L | 2 | 56kg | $9 |
12 | 16 | NICCI’S GOLD | Gary Portelli | Jean Van Overmeire (a) | 7.2L | 7 | 55kg | $101 |
13 | 11 | MISS EXFACTOR | Joseph Pride | Jay Ford | 8.5L | 9 | 56kg | $31 |
14 | 5 | PRETTY IN PINK | John O’Shea | Ms Rachel King | 8.8L | 6 | 57kg | $26 |
15 | 15 | GREY SHADOW | Ciaron Maher & David Eustace | Tom Marquand | 9.1L | 4 | 55kg | $31 |
16 | 17e | YAMAZAKI | David Pfieffer | Glen Boss | 9.3L | 11 | 55kg | $81 |
– | 18e | JEN RULES | Peter & Paul Snowden | Jean Van Overmeire (a) | – | 0 | – | – |
– | 2 | BOOKER | Gerald Ryan | Nash Rawiller | – | 0 | – | – |
The latest Sapphire Stakes 2020 betting odds on the Randwick Group 2 for fillies and mares this autumn will be available below as soon as released by Ladbrokes.com.au.
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 2020 field and barriers will be published in full below on the Wednesday of race week so stay tuned.
The 2020 Sapphire Stakes final field attracted a capacity line-up of fillies and mares led in betting by the Godolphin-raced Savatiano in gate three looking to atone for her last start seventh when only 2.5 lengths off the winner in the Group 1 The Galaxy (1100m).
Update: The widely-drawn Booker (17) and the second emergency Jen Rules (8) have been scratched from the last on Queen Elizabeth Stakes Day
Click here for the full 2020 Queen Elizabeth Stakes Day Scratchings & Track Report.
# | Form (Last 10) | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Barrier | Weight | Hcp. Rating |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 105x77x521 | I AM EXCITED | David Pfieffer | Tim Clark | 18 | 59kg | 112 |
2 | 19x0x807x8 | BOOKER | Gerald Ryan | Nash Rawiller | 17 | 59kg | 106 |
3 | 3x4101x127 | SAVATIANO | James Cummings | James McDonald | 3 | 58kg | 112 |
4 | 10190×3240 | WHITE MOSS | Jason Coyle | Glen Boss | 16 | 58kg | 106 |
5 | x510x060x0 | PRETTY IN PINK | John O’Shea | Ms Rachel King | 6 | 57kg | 97 |
6 | 430x07x25x | WINTER BRIDE | Toby & Trent Edmonds | Glyn Schofield | 14 | 56.5kg | 105 |
7 | 111x229x18 | FASIKA | Joseph Pride | Brenton Avdulla | 15 | 56kg | 106 |
8 | 22x41011x9 | MADAM ROUGE | Chris Waller | Ms Kathy O’Hara | 13 | 56kg | 105 |
9 | 303x1246x2 | MANICURE | James Cummings | Kerrin McEvoy | 2 | 56kg | 104 |
10 | 4009x0420x | MOSS TRIP | Peter & Paul Snowden | Joshua Parr | 1 | 56kg | 99 |
11 | 703396×261 | MISS EXFACTOR | Joseph Pride | Jay Ford | 10 | 56kg | 98 |
12 | 34x02151x0 | SOOTHING | James Cummings | Jason Collett | 9 | 55kg | 104 |
13 | 22133×4992 | CONNEMARA | Bjorn Baker | Adam Hyeronimus | 11 | 55kg | 94 |
14 | 0211267×53 | BANGKOK | Allan Denham | Robbie Dolan (a) | 5 | 55kg | 92 |
15 | x103x10x35 | GREY SHADOW | Ciaron Maher & David Eustace | Tom Marquand | 4 | 55kg | 92 |
16 | x51439x59x | NICCI’S GOLD | Gary Portelli | Opie Bosson | 7 | 55kg | 89 |
17e | 2443×21769 | YAMAZAKI | David Pfieffer | Glen Boss | 12 | 55kg | 82 |
18e | 676x46116x | JEN RULES | Peter & Paul Snowden | Jean Van Overmeire (a) | 8 | 55kg | 79 |
The Sapphire Stakes 2020 nominations are taken on the Monday of race week with the full list of early entries to be published below.
The 2020 Sapphire Stakes nominations attracted 29 fillies and mares including flying four-year-old Diamond Effort chasing a fifth win on the trot, last start Group 1 The Galaxy winner I Am Excited and the defending champion White Moss who also ran third in 2018.
# | Form (Last 10) | Horse | Sex | Age | Trainer | Hcp. Rating |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 0211267×53 | BANGKOK | M | 5 | Allan Denham | 92 |
2 | 19x0x807x8 | BOOKER | M | 5 | Gerald Ryan | 106 |
3 | 22133×4992 | CONNEMARA | M | 5 | Bjorn Baker | 94 |
4 | 25180×1111 | DIAMOND EFFORT | M | 4 | Clinton McDonald | 103 |
5 | 111x229x18 | FASIKA | M | 4 | Joseph Pride | 106 |
6 | x103x10x35 | GREY SHADOW | M | 5 | Ciaron Maher & David Eustace | 92 |
7 | 105x77x521 | I AM EXCITED | M | 5 | David Pfieffer | 112 |
8 | 2x16x93x68 | IN HER TIME | M | 7 | Kris Lees | 113 |
9 | 676x46116x | JEN RULES | M | 4 | Peter & Paul Snowden | 79 |
10 | 223x32212x | L’COSMO | F | 3 | Peter & Paul Snowden | 67 |
11 | 1x2242x225 | LI’L KONTRA | F | 3 | Ryan Balfour | 80 |
12 | 22x41011x9 | MADAM ROUGE | M | 4 | Chris Waller | 105 |
13 | 303x1246x2 | MANICURE | M | 5 | James Cummings | 104 |
14 | 1x4x3411x | MISS EINSTEIN | M | 4 | Bjorn Baker | 72 |
15 | 703396×261 | MISS EXFACTOR | M | 5 | Joseph Pride | 98 |
16 | 540x14131x | MISS INVINCIBLE | M | 4 | Bjorn Baker | 85 |
17 | 4009x0420x | MOSS TRIP | M | 5 | Peter & Paul Snowden | 99 |
18 | 241949x50x | NAANTALI (NZ) | M | 5 | Ciaron Maher & David Eustace | 93 |
19 | x51439x59x | NICCI’S GOLD | M | 5 | Gary Portelli | 89 |
20 | x510x060x0 | PRETTY IN PINK | M | 4 | John O’Shea | 97 |
21 | 2112×11111 | RUBISAKI | F | 3 | Patrick Payne | – |
22 | 3x4101x127 | SAVATIANO | M | 5 | James Cummings | 112 |
23 | 34x02151x0 | SOOTHING | M | 5 | James Cummings | 104 |
24 | 15x513x110 | SYLVIA’S MOTHER | M | 4 | Michael, Wayne & John Hawkes | 101 |
25 | 83x4233x16 | VILLAMI | F | 3 | Gerald Ryan | 90 |
26 | 10190×3240 | WHITE MOSS | M | 6 | Jason Coyle | 106 |
27 | 430x07x25x | WINTER BRIDE | M | 5 | Toby & Trent Edmonds | 105 |
28 | x53322x162 | WITHERSPOON | M | 4 | Kris Lees | 76 |
29 | 2443×21769 | YAMAZAKI | M | 4 | David Pfieffer | 82 |
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: | |
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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) |
See below for a full list of Sapphire Stakes winners and results going back to 2000.
Year | Place | Horse | Time |
---|---|---|---|
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 |