Sapphire Stakes

Looking for early info on this year’s Sapphire Stakes? The experts at Neds have put together everything you need to know.

The Sapphire Stakes is a Group 2 race for fillies and mares held at Randwick Racecourse in April as part of ‘The Championships. Run on Day 2, which traditionally takes place on the second Saturday of April, the race is a key support act on the program headlined by the Group 1 $4 million Queen Elizabeth Stakes (2000m).

A 1200m sprint race, the Sapphire Stakes offers $300,000 in prize money and is conducted at set weights plus penalties.

The Sapphire Stakes was inaugurated in 1998 and gained Group 2 status in 2007.

Some of the better female gallopers out of the race may continue onto the Group 1 All Aged Stakes (1400m) back at the track the following week and Atlantic Jewel (2012) was the last to do the double.

The Group 1 Robert Sangster Stakes (1200m) in Adelaide in late April or early May is another good next-up option for Sapphire Stakes graduates and that double was last completed by Secret Agenda (2017).

Sapphire Stakes 2022 – quick information

• Race Day: Saturday, April 9th, 2022
• Track Location: Randwick Racecourse
• Track Surface: Turf
• Track Direction: Right-handed
• Race Distance: 1,200 metres
• Weight Conditions: Set Weights + Penalties
• Qualification: Fillies & Mares; 3YOs & Upwards
• Type: Thoroughbred
• Grade: Group 2
• Operator: Australian Turf Club
• Prize Purse: $300,000
• Inaugural Race: 1998
• 2022 Sapphire Stakes Winner: Bella Nipotina

Sapphire Stakes 2022 RESULTS

The official 2022 Sapphire Stakes results will be available below once the race takes place on Saturday April 9, 2022. 

1. #2 Bella Nipotina
2. #9 Tricky Gal
3. #4 Belluci Babe

Sapphire Stakes Betting 2022

There are many different ways to bet on the Sapphire Stakes, we’ve included some of the most popular options below:

How To Bet On The Sapphire Stakes in 2022

1. Login at neds.com.au
2. Make a deposit, using your credit card, PayPal or other safe electronic method
3. Make sure to check out form guide, once it’s released
4. Decide what kind of bet you’re going to place (Win, Place, Each-Way, Trifecta + more betting options, please read our section on Sapphire Stakes Betting above).
5. Select the horse(s) for the race.

Which Horse Will Win The Sapphire Stakes in 2022

The best way to pick which filly or mare will win the Sapphire Stakes in 2022 is to take into account their lead-up form from the autumn, assess the barriers and look for the proven Group performers in Sydney. 

Additional factors to consider when picking the Sapphire Stakes winner include: 

• Returning Runners: Looking for mares who have previously contested the race can be key with dual champion White Moss (2019-20) having previously run third in 2018, while Fasika ran second in 2020 before her 2021 success.

sapphire Stakes Favourites 2022

Early favourites in 2022 Sapphire Stakes betting include Bjorn Baker’s Belluci Babe coming off back-to-back Group 1 fourths in The Galaxy and TJ Smith Stakes along with dual Group 1 place-getter Bella Nipotina from the Maher/Eustace stable. 

sapphire Stakes 2022 Field

The official 2022 Sapphire Stakes field of final acceptances is announced on the Wednesday of race week and will be published in full below once announced. 

• Scratched: #6 Fituese (2), #11 Jump The Broom (12)

sapphire Stakes 2022 Tips

Favourite: #4 Belluci Babe ($3.60 at time of publish)

Best Bet: #5 Wandabaa ($8 at time of publish)

Best Roughie: #7 Marboosha ($17 at time of publish)

Our exclusive 2022 Sapphire Stakes tips will be detailed above the week of the race and a full betting preview published on the Neds Blog.

CLICK HERE FOR OUR COMPLETE 2022 THE CHAMPIONSHIPS DAY 2 PREVIEW & TIPS

Sapphire Stakes Race Day 2022

The Sapphire Stakes takes place as part of Day 2 of ‘The Championships’ at Royal Randwick running on Saturday April 9th, 2022.  The meeting is headlined by four Group 1 events with the running of the:

• Group 1 $4 million Queen Elizabeth Stakes (2000m);
• Group 1 $2 million Sydney Cup (3200m);
• Group 1 $1 million Queen Of The Turf Stakes (1600m); and the
• Group 1 $1 million Australian Oaks (2400m).

sapphire stakes Barrier Draw 2022

The 2022 Sapphire Stakes barrier draw will be released to the public a few days before the race and will be published in our above Sapphire Stakes Field section. 

Sapphire Stakes Nominations 2022

Nominations close at 11:00am (AEDT) on Monday the 4th of April, 2022.

Table Credit: Racing Australia.

sapphire stakes Weights 2022

Set weights plus penalties conditions apply to this race. Final weights are announced at 4 PM on Tuesday the 5th of April, with weights on the final acceptors to be published in our above Sapphire Stakes Field section.

2022 Sapphire Stakes Top-Weight:

• #1 Four Moves Ahead (56kg)

Sapphire Stakes Acceptances 2022

Final acceptances must be declared before 9 AM on Wednesday the 6th of April, 2022 and will be published in our above Sapphire Stakes Field section. 

Sapphire Stakes Jockeys 2022

The final riders announcement is at 12 PM on Wednesday, 6th of April, 2022 with jockeys to be published in our above Sapphire Stakes Field section. 

sapphire Stakes Scratchings 2022

Scratchings close at 7:30 AM on Saturday, the 9th of April, 2022. 

2022 Sapphire Stakes Scratchings: 

• #6 Fituese (2)
• #11 Jump The Broom (12)

sapphire Stakes Prize Money 2022

The Sapphire Stakes prize purse is worth $300,000 in total, distributed from places first through to tenth.

sapphire Stakes Race Number 2022

The 2022 Sapphire Stakes is set to run as Randwick Race 10 at 5:10pm (AEST) on Saturday the 9th of April, 2022. There are ten races in total that day at Randwick Racecourse. 

sapphrie Stakes Form Guide 2022

The final form guide will be available the week of the race. You can check below for a link to our full 2022 Sapphire Stakes Form Guide following final acceptances. 

CLICK HERE FOR THE FULL 2022 SAPPHIRE STAKES FORM GUIDE

sapphire Stakes Live 2022

You can watch or listen to the 2022 Sapphire Stakes live, across the following mediums.

Pay television: Sky Racing 1 (channel 526 on Foxtel)

Radio: Radio Sport National

Free to air television: 7 Network

Streaming: Racing NSW

sapphire Stakes Winners

Winners of the Sapphire Stakes going back to the year 2000 are displayed in the table below.