2014 Group One Sapphire Classic Preview

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One of the highlights of a big night of racing at Sandown Park on Thursday night is the final of the Group One Sapphire Classic.

The event has been around since 1974 and was originally an age restricted race open to dogs and bitches. Token Prince won the race in 1997.

In 2002, the event was changed to a bitches only race. Since 2002 some outstanding bitches have taken out the feature event. The honour roll includes the likes of , Paua To Burn (twice), Betty's Angel, , Queen Lauryn, Cindeen Shelby and Xylia Allen. The race wasn't run in 2010 due to a change in the Australian Greyhound Racing Association calendar.

West Australian trained bitch Zelemar Fever (3) is the favourite for this years race, scoring in fast 29.34 in the fastest of the four heats last week. She is the 2014 Temlee champion and looks to have a good chance of adding another a Group race victory to her CV.

The Sapphire Classic is Race 6 on the card and jumps at 8:52pm. Here's a look at this years final;

Box 1
Race Odds
$3.40
Heat Replay
 
Prue Bale
Trainer
Andrea Dailly
Owner
Prizemoney
$59,575.00
Last 10 Starts
4421612182
29 Months   Black   Bitch   by   Go Wild Teddy Zambola Bale
Start Risky Running Rail Finish Good
Prizemoney Rating $1,418.00 Rating 99
Career Record
Starts 1st 2nd 3rd
42 13 8 4
Rates
Win % Place %
31% 60%
Track & Dist.
Starts 1st 2nd 3rd
10 1 2 2
       
Box 1 Record
Starts 1st 2nd 3rd
6 1 2 1
Comments: (Co-Trainer) – “She has drawn nicely, we hope she to get a clear run early and see what she can do.”

 

Best Sandown Park Times
Best Last Sect. Best Sect. Last
29.42 29.73 4.98 5.12
Box 2
Race Odds 
$7.50
Heat Replay
 
You Say Goodbye
Trainer
Stephen McKenna
Owner
Anthony Forte
Prizemoney
$62,235.00
Last 10 Starts
1453511212
32 Months   White & Black   Bitch   by   Hello SIenna
Start Good Running Rail Finish Good
Prizemoney Rating $1,556.00 Rating 94
Career Record
Starts 1st 2nd 3rd
40 12 10 4
       
Strike Rates
Win % Place %
30% 65%
Track & Dist.
Starts 1st 2nd 3rd
11 4 3 0
       
Box 2 Record
Starts 1st 2nd 3rd
2 0 2 0
Comments: Handy bitch who missed the start last week and suffered some interference. She showed good chasing tenacity to qualify for the final but a repeat of last week's box manners will probably mean trouble. She has recorded a best of 5.00 to the first mark and will need to draw on that to put herself in the race.
Best Sandown Park Times
Best Last Sect. Best Sect. Last
29.69 29.70 5.00 5.13
Box 3
Race Odds
$2.80
Heat Replay
 
Zelemar Fever
Trainer
Linda Britton
Owner
Weston Syndicate
Prizemoney
$253,215.00
Last 10 Starts
7263122211
38 Months   Black   Bitch   by   Bombastic Shiraz Noaki Pace
Start Risky Running Rail Finish Strong
Prizemoney Rating $3,956.00 Rating 100
Career Record
Starts 1st 2nd 3rd
64 27 10 6
Strike Rates
Win % Place %
42% 67%
Track & Dist.
Starts 1st 2nd 3rd
7 3 1 0
Box 3 Record
Starts 1st 2nd 3rd
8 3 2 1
Comments: Linda Britton (Trainer) – “The inside draw is better with her, it is a lot better then getting the six. I would prefer her closer to the inside but I am happy with the three. She has always been above average and always tries her best. We are hoping she goes well.”
Best Sandown Park Times
Best Last Sect. Best Sect. Last
29.35 29.35 5.07 5.07
Box 4
 Race Odds
$26.00
Heat Replay
 
Hot Dream
Trainer
Paul Galea
Owner
Graham Henry
Prizemoney
$15,291.00
Last 10 Starts
2478312112

32 Months

  Black   Bitch   by   Premier Fantasy Hello Sienna
Start Risky Running Rail Finish Strong
Prizemoney Rating $728.00 Rating 92
Career Record
Starts 1st 2nd 3rd
21 5 5 4
Strike Rates
Win % Place %
24% 67%
Track & Dist.
Starts 1st 2nd 3rd
6 2 1 1
Box 4 Record
Starts 1st 2nd 3rd
2 1 0 0
Comments: ARG opinion – Got lucky turning for home last week after Especially and Cairnlea Ella suffered interference. She took advantage of this opportunity to run into second place. She could find trouble from the draw.  
Best Sandown Park Times
Best Last Sect. Best Sect. Last
29.68 29.90 5.07 5.26
Box 5
Race Odds
$9.00
Heat Replay
 
Oakvale Destiny
Trainer
Jeff Britton
Owner
Nathan Wilson
Prizemoney
$9,695.00
Last 10 Starts
7134161522
21 Months   Blue   Bitch   by   Vapour Whirl Foot Luce
Start Slow Running Middle Finish

Strong

Prizemoney Rating $970.00 Rating 93
Career Record
Starts 1st 2nd 3rd
10 3 2 1
Strike Rates
Win % Place %
30% 60%
Track & Dist.
Starts 1st 2nd 3rd
6 1 2 1
Box 5 Record
Starts 1st 2nd 3rd
0 0 0  0
Comments: Angela Langton (Co-Trainer) – “She's very strong and probably one of the fastest in the race but she is slow early. We are hoping for some luck early but she has a fast beginner on her outside.”
Best Sandown Park Times
Best Last Sect. Best Sect. Last
30.03 29.58 5.14 5.15
Box 6
Race Odds
$6.50
Heat Replay
 
Te Amo
Trainer
Linda Britton
Owner
Romer Adamson Syndicate
Prizemoney
$143,170.00
Last 10 Starts
2424213231
36 Months   Black   Bitch   by   Osti's Bride
Start Excellent Running Rail Finish Strong
Prizemoney Rating $3,671.00 Rating 95
Career Record
Starts 1st 2nd 3rd
39 15 2 4
Strike Rates
Win % Place %
38% 54%
Track & Dist.
Starts 1st 2nd 3rd
1 1 0 0
Box 6 Record
Starts 1st 2nd 3rd
5 3 1 0
Comments: Linda Britton (Trainer) – “She will definitely need to show her early pace again. She trialled quicker then the time she ran last week. She was a little unsettled last week and we had a bit of trouble with her weight. We are hoping she goes better this week as she has had a chance to settle a bit more.”
Best Sandown Park Times
Best Last Sect. Best Sect. Last
29.71 29.71 5.00 5.00
Box 7
Race Odds
$21.00
Heat Replay
 
Amadeus Strikes
Trainer
Robert Britton
Owner
Steven White
Prizemoney
$123,945.00
Last 10 Starts
7632371811
45 Months   Black   Bitch   by   Bombastic Shiraz Forgetful Lucy
Start Risky Running Rail Finish Strong
Prizemoney Rating $1,907.00 Rating 92
Career Record
Starts 1st 2nd 3rd
65 22 12  9
Strike Rates
Win % Place %
34% 66%
Track & Dist.
Starts 1st 2nd 3rd
4 2 0 1
Box 7 Record
Starts 1st 2nd 3rd
8 1 1 1
Comments: Robert Britton (Trainer) – “Very happy with how she went last week. If she can repeat the 5.02 split from last week it would be good. However, I would have preferred an inside draw. It will be tough to get across from out there. There is a lot of pace in the race. If they can run 5.02 early you expect them to lead, with all of the pace in the race though, the inside dogs have some sort of advantage.”
Best Sandown Park Times
Best Last Sect. Best Sect. Last
29.52 29.52 5.02 5.02
Box 8
Race Odds
$6.00
Heat Replay
 
Oakvale Flyer
Trainer
Jeff Britton
Owner
Nathan Wilson
Prizemoney
$22,515.00
Last 10 Starts
1371411241
21 Months   Black   Bitch   by   Vapour Whirl Foot Luce
Start Good Running Rail Finish Strong
Prizemoney Rating $1,876.00 Rating 98
Career Record
Starts 1st 2nd 3rd
12 6 2 1
Strike Rates
Win % Place %
50% 75%
Track & Dist.
Starts 1st 2nd 3rd
7 4 1 1
Box 8 Record
Starts 1st 2nd 3rd
1 1 0 0
Comments: Angela Langton (Co-Trainer) – “We were hoping she would draw inside as she likes to be on the fence. She is a better beginner then her sister and hopefully she begins and gets a cart across. She is also strong.”
Best Sandown Park Times
Best Last Sect. Best Sect. Last
29.53 29.58 5.02 5.02
1st Res
Race Odds
$16.00
Heart Replay
 
Lady Toy
Trainer
Norma Gost
Owner
Norma Gost
Prizemoney
$24,715.00
Last 10 Starts
2753261113
23 Months   Black   Bitch   by   Our Toyman Railway Shiraz
Start Slow Running Middle Finish Strong
Prizemoney Rating $2,060.00 Rating 88
Career Record
Starts 1st 2nd 3rd
12 3 3 3
Strike Rates
Win % Place %
25% 75%
Track & Dist.
Starts 1st 2nd 3rd
4 3 0 1
Box Record
Starts 1st 2nd 3rd
N/A N/A N/A N/A
Comments: Has taken to Sandown well but is a slow beginner and will need some luck if she gets a start.
Best Sandown Park Times
Best Last Sect. Best Sect. Last
29.82 29.70 5.33 5.43
2nd Res
Race Odds
$26.00
Heat Replay
 
Mahogany Saphire
Trainer
Owner
Barry Augustine
Prizemoney
$5,970.00
Last 10 Starts
1776363133
29 Months   Fawn   Bitch   by   Bartrim Bale Rich Mahogany
Start Risky Running Middle Finish Fair
Prizemoney Rating $314.00 Rating 85
Career Record
Starts 1st 2nd 3rd
19 4 1 5
Strike Rates
Win % Place %
21% 53%
Track & Dist.
Starts 1st 2nd 3rd
3 0 0 3
Box Record
Starts 1st 2nd 3rd
N/A N/A N/A N/A
Comments: Likely to struggle if she gets a start. Led last week but was run down by Oakvale Flyer and Prue Bale.
Best Sandown Park Times
Best Last Sect. Best Sect. Last
NBT 30.25 5.04 5.15

Zelemar Fever (3) has drawn well and will need to begin on terms to avoid interference into the turn. She has the time on the board and only needs to repeat that to secure the win. There's a bit of pace in the race and Linda Britton's other chaser, Te Amo (6), could very well lead as she has Oakvale Destiny (5) on her inside. Oakvale Destiny is a slow beginner and will give Te Amo that extra little bit of room. Watch for Oakvale Destiny in the closing stages as she is very strong. Prue Bale (1) couldn't quite get to the lead last week but she has drawn the cherry this week which should give her every chance.

Oakvale Flyer (8) is a better beginner then her sister Oakvale Destiny and she is also strong. She looks an each-way chance if she can get some luck from the pink box. Amadeus Strikes (7) has been beginning well her last couple of starts but moves to the undesirable outside alley. Last week's first section was great and if she can again, she could get near to the lead. You Say Goodbye (2) missed the start from box two last week and can't afford to do the same this week. Her sister, Hot Dream (4), took advantage of the opportunities that were presented to her last week but she isn't likely to get the same favours again this week.

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