Sapphire Stakes 2023 Race Details
Race 10 at Randwick Racecourse on Saturday the 8th of April 2023.
The Sapphire Stakes is a Group 2 race held at Randwick Racecourse and is run over 1200 metres. It is run under set weights and penalties conditions and is for fillies and mares aged three-years-old and older. The total prize money is $300,000 this year.
You can read more about the race history, lead-up races, and past winners on the Sapphire Stakes page.
Sapphire Stakes 2023 Preview
Track: Good Weather: Fine
Zapateo comes up favourite. It has a wide draw to contend with but strong claims with J-Mac doing the steering in a winnable race. Hypothetical should land up on the speed and prove hard to hold out while Kiku will be hitting the line hard and gets the services of Hugh Bowman. Never Talk has strong claims after a luckless first up run and Dylan Gibbons does the steering.
Sapphire Stakes 2023 Runner by Runner
1. Princess Grace (3)
Import who is a solid market watch. Has claims in a winnable race.
2. Kiku (11)
Will get back and run on but has good claims in this field. Bowman steers from the wide draw.
3. Expat (7)
Can lead and prove hard to get past. In the mix and likes this track.
4. Zapateo (15)
Maps terribly from 15 but finds a race where most of these have convictions. Should be able to run over the top of this lot with even luck. Hard to hold out.
5. Sky Command (6)
Needs to control the race to be winning. Prefer others with the amount of speed.
6. Jal Lei (10)
Ticking along well and finds the right race to breakthrough for a win. Hard to beat.
7. Juan Diva (2)
Capable of running a big race fresh and maps kindly from the draw. Right in the mix against this lot.
8. Night Of Romance (14)
Can’t have.
9. Never Talk (13)
Due for a win but does find a suitable race and good to see Gibbons sticking with the ride. Will need a fair track pattern with its get back and run on racing style but looks hard to beat on paper.
10. Jump The Broom (16)
Going along well enough but due for a win.
11. Hypothetical (8)
Nice weight and map. Should get a nice run in transit and off its win 2 back is hard to beat in this.
12. Nicci’s Fling (9)
Prefer others.
13. Dalchini (5)
Has claims but due for another win and might not find that here.
14. Oakfield Arrow (1)
Can’t have.
15. Fumiko (4)
Prefer others.
16. Eye See Things (12)
Can’t have.
Sapphire Stakes 2023 Tips
The following are the top 4 selections for this years race.
|
Bryce Parker’s Tips
|
Jo Jackson’s Tips | |
| 9 Never Talk | 4 Zapateo | |
| 11 Hypothetical | 11 Hypothetical | |
| 2 Kiku | 6 Jal Lei | |
| 4 Zapateo | 9 Never Talk |
Previews for other races this week
Group 1 Queen Elizabeth Stakes 2023 (Randwick 2000m)
Group 1 Sydney Cup 2023 (Randwick 3200m)
Group 1 Australian Oaks 2023 (Randwick 2400m)
Group 1 Coolmore Legacy/Queen Of The Turf Stakes 2023 (Randwick 1600m)
Group 2 Arrowfield 3YO Sprint 2023 (Randwick 1200m)
Group 2 Percy Sykes Stakes 2023 (Randwick 1200m)
Listed Fernhill Handicap 2023 (Randwick 1600m)
Listed South Pacific Stakes 2023 (Randwick 1400m)
Group 2 WATC Derby 2023 (Ascot 2400m)
Listed Old Comrade Stakes 2023 (Ascot 1600m)
Group 3 Victoria Handicap 2023 (Sandown 1400m)
Group 3 Easter Cup 2023 (Sandown 2100m)
Listed Redoute’s Choice Stakes 2023 (Sandown 1200m)
Listed Hills Railway Stakes 2023 (Oakbank 1100m)
Sapphire Stakes 2023 Race Results
| Result | Horse | Margin |
| 1st | 4 Zapateo | |
| 2nd | 9 Never Talk | 2.4 lengths |
| 3rd | 1 Princess Grace | 3.38 lengths |
| 4th | 3 Expat | 3.73 lengths |
The track was rated as Soft 7.
Scratchings: 7. Juan Diva, 8. Night Of Romance.