2024 Sapphire Stakes: Race History

Will we see G1 form again in the Sapphire Stakes run at Randwick on Saturday?

ZAPATEO winning the TAB SAPPHIRE STAKES at Randwick in Australia. Racing Photos
ZAPATEO winning the TAB SAPPHIRE STAKES at Randwick in Australia. Racing Photos

Bella Nipotina showed that off. Who takes the 2024 Sapphire Stakes (1200m) at Randwick on Saturday?

2024 SAPPHIRE STAKES - RACE HISTORY AND BACKGROUND

The Sapphire Stakes is Group 2 race for fillies and mares conducted by the Australian Turf Club at Royal Randwick as part of The Championships.

The Sapphire Stakes was first run in 1998 over 1200m and has remained at that distance.

The Sapphire Stakes is run under set weights and penalty conditions and has been a Group 2 race since 2007. It was a Listed Race from 1998-2001 and Group 3 from 2002-2006.

In 2010 the race was named the Lady Sonia McMahon Memorial Stakes in honour of the wife of Sir William McMahon, a former Prime Minister of Australia. Lady McMahon died in April of 2010.

Even only with a short history, several G1 mares have had success like Spinning Hill, Glamour Puss, Hurtle Myrtle, Atlantic Jewel, Cosmic Endeavour, Secret Agenda, Bella Nipotina and Zapateo. That substantially helped their post-race careers.

The 2024 Sapphire Stakes was run at Royal Randwick for prizemoney of $300,000.

Notable winners of the Sapphire Stakes include What Can I Say, Spinning Hill twice, Fair Embrace, Fatoon, Glamour Puss, Coolroom Candidate, Belong To Many, Hurtle Myrtle, Atlantic Jewel, Avoid Lightning, Arinosa, Cosmic Endeavour, Secret Agenda, Bella Nipotina and Zapateo.

The 2023 Sapphire Stakes was won by Zapateo from Never Talk and Princess Grace.


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