Brazen Beau's Zapateo a Class Above in Sapphire Stakes

Mark Smith - Saturday April 8

While their champion Anamoe had to settle for third in the Queen Elizabeth Stakes, Godolphin bookended day two of The Championships at Randwick when the Brazen Beau mare Zapateo captured the Group II Sapphire Stakes (1200m).

Soft win for Zapateo (image Steve Hart)

Soft win for Zapateo (image Steve Hart)

Ridden by James McDonald for James Cummings, the admirable consistent 4yo daughter of Brazen Beau defeated the No Nay Never 5yo Never Talk by two and a quarter lengths with the imported  Karakontie (JPN) mare Princess Grace (USA) a length back in third.

A last-start winner of the Group III Birthday Carfd stakes at Rosehill, Zapateo claimed her fifth stakes to advance her record to eight wins, four seconds and six thirds from 30 starts with earnings of $1,624,120.

“She could well and truly advance into being a competitive chance in a (Group 1) Robert Sangster (Stakes),” Cummings said.  

“The form she’s in against these mares, she’s earned her way. That was a pretty arrogant win, I thought. She cruised up three wide and hands and heels in the finish. Third placegetter (Princess Grace) has won $2 million in prize money. The strength of the field was there today.

“Zapateo is entitled to get the rewards and the accolades she deserves. She trained the house down in the lead-up, and one of the few things left to achieve with her is to get her a Group 1. If we target the lights out with the Sangster in mind, she can be a dangerous horse in that race.”

Zapateo is the fifth of six foals left by the Lonhro mare Jerezana before her premature death in 2019.

Winner of the Listed Ramornie Handicap, Jerezana proved to be an outstanding servant for Darley.

She's gorgeous (image Scott Barbour/Racing Photos)

She's gorgeous (image Scott Barbour/Racing Photos)

All five foals to race from Jerezana have displayed well above average ability.

The high-class Street Cry (IRE) gelding Osborne Bulls leads the way. His nine wins from 20 starts included the Group II VRC TAB Stakes, Listed Regal Roller Stakes and Listed Luskin Star Stakes. He was runner-up in the Group 1 Newmarket Handicap, Group 1 All-Aged Stakes, Group 1 Black Caviar Lightning Stakes, Group 1 TJ Smith Stakes, and third in The Everest. The son of Street Cry (IRE) contributed $2,871,760 to the Godolphin coffers.

The final foal of Jerezana is the unraced 3yo Street Boss (USA) colt Zaragoza who was an impressive second in his only barrier trial at Kembla Grange in February.

Jerezana’s half-sister Patina (Anabaa) is the dam of the Group II Roman Consul Stakes winner Viridine (Poet’s Voice).

Race Result - Tab Sapphire Stakes Gr2 1200m

Randwick Track: Soft(7) Time: 1:11.28
1
Zapateo
- 4m Brazen Beau (AUS) x Jerezana (AUS) (Lonhro (AUS))
Tnr: James Cummings Rdr: J B Mc Donald 55.5
2
2.5
Never Talk
- 5m No Nay Never (USA) x Palace Talk (NZ) (Street Cry (IRE))
Tnr: K A Lees Rdr: Dylan Gibbons 54
3
3.5
Princess Grace
- 6m Karakontie (JPN) x Masquerade (USA) (Silent Name (JPN))
Tnr: C J Waller Rdr: J Moreira 56
4
3.7
Expat
- 5m Makfi (GB) x Utmost Caution (AUS) (Galileo (IRE))
Tnr: Joseph Pride Rdr: B Prebble 56
5
4.5
Jal Lei
- 4m Sebring (AUS) x Lesley's Choice (AUS) (Exceed And Excel (AUS))
Tnr: J A O'Shea Rdr: T Marquand 55
6
4.7
Kiku
- 5m Zoustar (AUS) x Atotori (AUS) (Haradasun (AUS))
Tnr: C J Waller Rdr: J Bowman 56
7
5.2
Hypothetical
- 4m Pride Of Dubai (AUS) x Fitna (AUS) (Fastnet Rock (AUS))
Tnr: A & S Freedman Rdr: Damian Lane 54
8
5.5
Jump The Broom
- 5m Sebring (AUS) x Bubbleberry (AUS) (Statue Of Liberty (USA))
Tnr: M, W & J Hawkes Rdr: J R Collett 54
9
6.3
Sky Command
- 4m Deep Field (AUS) x Love Commands (AUS) (Commands (AUS))
Tnr: G Ryan & S Alexiou Rdr: Regan Bayliss 55
10
7.2
Dalchini
- 4m Flying Artie (AUS) x Cinnamon Dove (USA) (Gulch (USA))
Tnr: Lee & Cherie Curtis Rdr: J Ford 54
11
7.3
Nicci's Fling
- 5m Nicconi (AUS) x Midnight Fling (AUS) (Danehill (USA))
Tnr: G Portelli Rdr: Reece Jones 54
12
7.4
Oakfield Arrow
- 5m Press Statement (AUS) x Amberino (AUS) (Perugino (USA))
Tnr: Ms K Buchanan Rdr: Rachel King 54
13
11.3
Eye See Things
- 6m Star Witness (AUS) x Dollhouse (AUS) (Snitzel (AUS))
Tnr: John Thompson Rdr: Brock Ryan 54
14
23.0
Fumiko
- 4m Flying Artie (AUS) x Exceed And Excite (AUS) (Exceed And Excel (AUS))
Tnr: Ms K Buchanan Rdr: Tyler Schiller 54
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