Blue Sapphire Stakes
The Blue Sapphire Stakes is a Group 3 race for three-year-olds that takes place midweek in October at Caulfield racecourse in Melbourne, Victoria. The race is run over a distance of 1200 metres and worth $200,000 in prize money. The 2019 Blue Sapphire Stakes was won by Anaheed from Li'l Kontra with Brooklyn Hustle third.
Held on a Wednesday on the middle day of the Melbourne Racing Club's three-day Caulfield Cup Carnival, the Blue Sapphire Stakes features alongside the Ladies Day Vase. and Coongy Handicap.
The Carnival's first day is highlighted by the Group 1 Caulfield Guineas and Group 1 Thousand Guineas the previous Saturday, while the Group 1 Caulfield Cup takes centre stage the following Saturday.
Blue Sapphire Stakes info
| Date: | Wednesday 13th October 2021 |
| Track: | Caulfield racecourse, Melbourne |
| Distance: | 1200 metres |
| Race Type: | 3yo - Set Weights |
| Status: | Group 3 |
| Prize Money: | $200,000 |
| 2019 Winner: | Anaheed |
The Blue Sapphire Stakes is a good quality three-year-old race during Caulfield Cup week and has attracted clasy types over the past few seasons. The raise to group three status has resulted in better fields and higher quality horses contesting the event.
Earlier Caulfield three-year-old races such as the Gr3 Quezette Stakes, Gr 3 Vain Stakes and Gr 3 H.D.F. McNeil Stakes are ideal lead-up races, but have not proven much of a guide in recent times.
Lesser lights who tackled the Gr3 Danehill Stakes at Flemington may also be worth keeping an eye on when doing the form for this race. The drop in class and return to racing around a bend can make a big difference to how they perform. Speedy filly Snitzerland (2012) was the last galloper to win the Danehill Stakes & Blue Sapphire Stakes double.
It's worth noting that recent winners have gone on to tackle the Group 1 Coolmore Stud Stakes at Flemington on the first day of the Melbourne Cup Carnival. Flying Artie (2016) was good enough to win the Coolmore Stud Stakes, while the others were more than competitive.
Anaheed (2019) ran fifth in the Group 2 Tea Rose Stakes over 1400m at Randwick before heading south to Melbourne to score a classy victory in this event for the Peter & Paul Snowden stable.
Recent Blue Sapphire Stakes winners include Written By (2018) and Formality (2017).
Spring Carnival Guide
Classy galloper Flying Artie (2016) went on to win the Group 1 Coolmore Stud Stakes on Derby Day at Flemington, while Keen Array (2015) and Lion Of Belfort (2013) both went on to place in the Group 1 Coolmore Stud Stakes.
Eloping (2014) headed to Flemington on Melbourne Cup Day to finish runner-up in the Gr3 Red Roses Stakes for fillies.
Star galloper Lankan Rupee (3rd in 2012) ran third to Sntzerland in this race before rising to stardom with multiple group one victories as an older galloper.
The Blue Sapphire Stakes tends to produce unheralded three-year-olds who often go on to be more than competitive at the highest level.
2019 Blue Sapphire Stakes result
1. $7.50 Anaheed 55.0 Damian Lane
2. $14.00 Li'l Kontra 55.0 Jamie Kah
3. $8.00 Brooklyn Hustle 55.0 Luke Nolen
then followed
4. $7.50 Condo's Express 57.0 Ben Melham
5. $21.00 Niccovi 55.0 Luke Currie
6. $5.50 Dubious 57.0 Mark Zahra
7. $3.30 Exhilarates 55.0 Kerrin McEvoy
8. $21.00 Excess Funds 57.0 Brett Prebble
9. $31.00 Viking Warrior 57.0 Nash Rawiller
10. $21.00 Strasbourg 57.0 Damien Oliver
11. $19.00 Czarson 57.0 Tim Clark
Margins: 1 len, 0.1 len
Time: 1:10.42
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Blue Sapphire Stakes winners & placegetters
| Year | Winner | 2nd | 3rd | Time |
| 2019 | Anaheed | Li'l Kontra | Brooklyn Hustle | 1:10.4 |
| 2018 | Written By | Encryption | Tony Nicconi | 1:11.5 |
| 2017 | Formality | Jukebox | Lone Eagle | 1:10.6 |
| 2016 | Flying Artie | Dalradian | Derryn | 1:09.7 |
| 2015 | Keen Array | Mogador | Haptic | 1:11.0 |
| 2014 | Eloping | Sultry Feeling | Husson Eagle | 1:09.5 |
| 2013 | Lion of Belfort | Safeguard | Diamond Oasis | 1:11.0 |
| 2012 | Snitzerland | Fire Thunderbolt | Lankan Rupee | 1:10.0 |
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