Sapphire Stakes betting tips, value odds & strategy
The feature on Doomben’s nine-race program on Saturday is the Group 3 TAB Sapphire Stakes for fillies and mares over 1630m. Baccarat Baby is the current favourite in a field of 12, just ahead of Krone and Tricky Gal. Shuhood looks to be the main speed influence in the race.
Free betting tips for Sapphire Stakes 2020
Baccarat Baby @ $4 Sportsbet
It is hard to look past Baccarat Baby in what will be her last run before the spring. She comes through the Dane Ripper two weeks ago where she fought on gamely to finish seven, only 1.3 lengths back of the winner. On that occasion, she was caught three wide without cover and had every right to drop out of it late, but if anything she found a bit more in the concluding stages to suggest she will lap up every bit of the 1600m here. Regular rider Micheal Hellyer has been replaced by Ryan Maloney, who will have to press on from barrier 11. Her form at Doomben speaks volumes with three wins and two minor placings coming from her five runs at the track. She is two from two over the Doomben mile and we think she will be making it three from three on Saturday.
Krone @ $5.50 Sportsbet
Krone sits on the second line of betting and rightly so. Tony Gollan’s mare absolutely flew home two starts ago at this track to run second, before turning in last in the Dane Ripper to finish fifth in a blanket. The arguable top rider of the Brisbane Winter Carnival, Brad Stewart, will partner the 4yo for the first time, which is a huge advantage. From barrier six, Krone will likely get back, as is her typical pattern, and flash home late. She has only managed a second in three attempts over 1600m, but those runs were in the Group 1 Thousand Guineas, where she finished not even three lengths off the winner, and a fourth behind All-Star Mile winning mare Mystic Journey in a Group 2 race at Moonee Valley, which is exceptional form for a race like this. She seems to be getting better with every run this time in and we expect her to be right in the finish.
Strome @ $27 Sportsbet
Gary Portelli sends north his Smart Missile mare, Strome, for her first race out of New South Wales. Her form this campaign hasn’t been her best, but she has been racing in Group 3 races over the autumn carnival in Sydney and on very wet tracks where she doesn’t seem to go an inch. She should get a much drier track on Saturday and drops back to the 1600m, where she has finished in the top two on four occasions from seven attempts. Steph Thornton takes the ride from barrier seven and will have the mare midfield and presenting in the straight. She will have to improve, but the firmer surface could see Strome bring her best in what isn’t an overly strong Group 3 race.