Infancy launches late to claim Group 2 Sapphire Stakes
The Kris Lees-trained Infancy ($26) has come with a withering burst to claim the Group 2 Sapphire Stakes (1200m) at Randwick on Saturday afternoon, closing out Day 2 of The Championships.
The daughter of Wandjina was first-up after a 119-day spell; however, did appear primed to strike, being sent around for three barrier trials prior to this first-up assignment.
The four-year-old rounded them up impressively from the rear of the field at a massive price with horse racing bookmakers, narrowly spoiling the party for favourite backers as Commemorative () sat three-wide the trip under James McDonald.
The race was setup for the back markers to come into play, with the Bjorn Baker-trained Queues Likely () setting a strong tempo under the urgings of Rachel King, while Skirt The Law ($26) sprung the lids to sit on her hammer.
Lady Laguna () was stalking the pair the entire straight from gate four and seemingly got every chance to strike at the top of the straight; however, she couldn’t match motors with Commemorative as she pounced to the top.
She had to fend off Infancy though, and with the Godolphin filly sustaining a tough run in transit, it was the Australian Bloodstock mare getting the better in the final 50m.
Kris Lees was on track to discuss the performance.
“She’s a backmarker so you never go in with great confidence. I was confident she was at her best, which she’d need to be against this field,” Lees said.
“Got a lovely ride from Jason, he got it right in the first half and was able to peel off and give us some clear air and she did the rest, but she’s got a really good Randwick record.
“She’s a backmarker, so if you go through her form, there’s a few hard luck stories amongst it, but she had the luck today.
“She’s got a bit more racing, so onwards and upwards. She does like her runs spaced, so we’ll just have her have an easy week and then we’ll decide.”
Jason Collett then spoke post-race.
“Yeah nice consolation, pace was on, it suited her,” said Collett.
“I was hoping to be closer from the gate, I thought on paper we could land that way, but the tempo was strong and just had to let her find her feet and follow the right horse,” Collet said.
“I got a great drag into it where I was able to sort of save her up over the hill. When I came off the back of the Commemorative, I knew I’d be a pretty strong late because her turn of foot when held together for that period of time. It’s pretty explosive.”
Comments are closed.