*Article by Mark Smith for breednet
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).
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 Card 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.
WBF Thoroughbreds will offer two Brazen Beau colts at the Inglis Ready 2 Race Sale this year.
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