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.

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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.

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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
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
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