Wandjina's Infancy Wins G2 Sapphire Stakes

Craig Tompson - Sunday April 13

Wandjina’s quality sprinting daughter Infancy produced a career best on day two of The Championships at Randwick when resuming off a break to win the Group II Sapphire Stakes (1200m).

Infancy wins the Group II Sapphire Stakes. Photo: bradleyphotos.com.au

Showing her customary lack of early speed, Jason Collett settled Infancy back near the rear but found himself tracking short-price favourite Commemorative (I Am Invincible).

That pair came widest in the straight with plenty to offer but Infancy produced a powerful drive in the final 100 metres to outgun the favourite and win by half a length with with Lady Laguna (Overshare) third.

“She got a lovely ride from Jason and she's done the rest,” said trainer Kris Lees.

“She's got a really good Randwick record. She's a back marker, so if you go through her form, there's a few hard-luck stories amongst it, but she had the luck today.”

Bred by Australian Bloodstock, Infancy is one of two winners from two to race for Childhood (USA), an American-bred daughter of Lonhro, who won two of five starts in Ireland before failing at her only start in America.

A half-sister to three stakes winners, including the Grade III winner Baby J and the Grade 1-placed Laureate Conductor, Childhood (USA) was a 60,000 gns buy for Ronald Rauscher from the Godolphin consignment at the 2017 Tattersalls July Sale.

Advertisement

McEvoy Mitchell Racing / Belmont Bloodstock Agency (FBAA) shelled out $60,000 for a now to year-old filly by Graff consigned by HP Thoroughbreds to the 2024 Inglis Classic Yearling Sale.

Her 2025 yearling, also by Graff made $90,000 to Tasman Thoroughbreds, again at Classic.

She didn’t produce a foal last year and has been served by Tassort.

Infancy is one of six stakes winners for Larneuk Stud’s Group 1 Australian Guineas hero Wandjina (Snitzel).

He’s enjoying a strong year with three stakes winners including  this season’s Group II winner and Group I placed Hong Kong galloper Galaxy Patch.

Advertisment

Race Result - Cincotta Chemist Sapphire Stakes Gr2 1200m

Randwick Track: Good(4) Time: 1:09.24
1
Infancy
- 4m Wandjina (AUS) x Childhood (USA) (Lonhro (AUS))
Tnr: K A Lees Rdr: J R Collett 54
2
0.5
Commemorative
- 4m I Am Invincible (AUS) x Memorial (AUS) (Street Cry (IRE))
Tnr: James Cummings Rdr: J B Mc Donald 55.5
I Am Invincible
3
0.8
Lady Laguna
- 5m Overshare (AUS) x Catalina De Lago (NZ) (Encosta De Lago (AUS))
Tnr: Annabel Neasham & Rob Archibald Rdr: Tyler Schiller 58
MM Gold Coast National Broodmare Sale $2,500,000
Seller: Newgate Consignment, Aberdeen, NSW (As Agent)
Buyer: James Harron Bloodstock Pty Ltd
4
0.9
Tashi
- 5m Sebring (AUS) x Ghenwaa (AUS) (Street Cry (IRE))
Tnr: Peter Snowden Rdr: Tom Sherry 54
5
1.2
Coco Jamboo
- 5m Massaat (IRE) x Beta Tauri (USA) (Oasis Dream (GB))
Tnr: Peter Snowden Rdr: Zac Lloyd 55
6
1.5
Zaszou
- 4m Zoustar (AUS) x Zasorceress (NZ) (Zabeel (NZ))
Tnr: P Stokes Rdr: Craig Williams 54
7
2.4
Olentia
- 5m Zoustar (AUS) x Mabkhara (AUS) (Anabaa (USA))
Tnr: C J Waller Rdr: Tommy Berry 56
8
4
Tiz Invincible
- 4m I Am Invincible (AUS) x Amuletum (GB) (New Approach (IRE))
Tnr: C Maher Rdr: M Zahra 57
9
5.7
Queues Likely
- 4m Massaat (IRE) x Bakoura (GB) (Green Desert (USA))
Tnr: Bjorn Baker Rdr: Rachel King 55
10
8.4
Skirt The Law
- 4m Better Than Ready (AUS) x Outlaw Kate (AUS) (Exceed And Excel (AUS))
Tnr: T J Gollan Rdr: Jamie Melham 54
11
9.4
Unique Ambition
- 4m Tavistock (NZ) x Key To Success (NZ) (Thorn Park (AUS))
Tnr: J G Sargent Rdr: Dylan Gibbons 54
More Reading...
Two to Black Book for Darby Racing
Darby Racing celebrated another feature race win with their savvy $160,000 Inglis Digital purchase Robusto in the Listed ATC Winter Challenge at Rosehill on Saturday and in his post-race interview Bjorn Baker revealed they had purchased two new tried horses last week, so who are they?
Sires With Winners - Saturday July 19
Here is the full list of 101 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
€1.85million Sale-Topping Frankel Filly Now Dual G1 Oaks Winner for Coolmore
Not seen since winning the Group I Epsom Oaks (1m4f) at the start of June, the Aidan O’Brien trained Frankel filly Minnie Hauk started favourite in the Group I Irish Oaks (1m4f) at The Curragh overnight and duly saluted.
Make That a Dozen Winners for Farnan
Kia Ora Stud’s Farnan added a new winner to his tally on Sunday at Seymour where Blethyn saluted as a short priced favourite.
Sires With Winners - Sunday July 20
Here is the full list of 60 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Smart 2YO for Ferrando
Progressive colt El Vaquero completed the southern juvenile season on a winning note at Oamaru on Sunday, outclassing his rivals to claim the One Smart Coffee (1200m).
One to Watch – Hawkesbury
Mulberry Racing are looking to make an impression with a string of lovely yearling purchases this year and the acquisition of an Everest slot and their colours were in the frame at Hawkesbury on Sunday carried by a 2YO son of Pierro.
Robusto The Ultimate Inglis Digital Success Story
When Churchill (IRE) gelding Robusto was offered on Inglis Digital last September he was a solid Saturday class horse that had claimed a Benchmark 88 event on July 20, fast forward 12 months and he’s a $2.1million earner with the Listed ATC Winter Challenge (1500m) on his resume.
Melbourne Cup Contender for Wootton Bassett
Coolmore shuttler Wootton Bassett (GB) has been doing a lot of amazing things this year and he might just have a Melbourne Cup contender with the Joseph O’Brien trained Al Riffa putting himself in the picture with a facile five length win in the Group II Curragh Cup (1m6f) overnight.
Written By 3YO Claims Second Stakes Victory
Talented three year old Wind And The Lion (Written By) made a welcome return to form when he claimed the second stakes win of his career in the Listed HG Bolton Sprint 1200m at Bunbury yesterday and comes from a famous female family steeped in history .