Macro Meats Sapphire Crown
Mighty Amakler
10 June 2011
Evergreen sprinter Amakler Girl upstaged her younger rivals to claim one of greyhound racing’s most prestigious prizes, the $72,500 Group 1 Macro Meats Sapphire Crown at Sandown Park tonight.
The oldest runner in the field, Amakler Girl ($7.40) jumped straight to the lead from box 1 and was never headed, leading all the way to defeat fast-finishing favourite Tonneli Bale ($3.60) by 1¼ lengths. Aston Elle, the best supported runner leading into the race having been backed in from $7 into $4.40, finished a gallant third a further ¾ of a length away after tracking Amakler Girl throughout the race.
“We’re just delighted, very proud of her,” said ecstatic trainer Robert Stack.
Despite Amakler Girl’s impressive win from box 1 in her heat, Stack had hoped to draw box 8 for the final given her outstanding record of eight wins from 14 starts from that alley. However ‘the cherry’ would prove no hindrance to her chances of Group 1 glory as she set slick sectionals to slash almost three lengths off her previous best time around the Lightwood Road venue.
“I’m very happy with the time,” said Stack with a grin.
“For her to do what she’s done at her age is remarkable. She doesn’t know she’s almost four years old. A reserve for this race in November 2009, it took until May this year before Amakler Girl competed in her first Group final, the Group 2 Ladies Bracelet in Sydney.
The win improved her record to an impressive 27 wins from 70 starts, while the $50,000 first prize almost doubled Amakler Girl’s career prizemoney to $109,115.
The Macro Meats Sapphire Crown – Australia’s richest race for bitches – boasts one of the finest honour rolls in Australian greyhound racing, with Bogie Leigh, Paua To Burn, Betty’s Angel and Queen Lauryn among recent winners.
On a big night at Sandown Park, three greyhounds wearing the number six rug won, meaning that any group that had prepaid for the night out had their money refunded.
After the placings the field finished in the following order 4th Miss Belair ($11.90), 5th Queen Of Cyprus ($3.90), 6th Wadelock Sal ($27.20) 7th Dream Chick ($27.80) and Rafferty Flyer ($7.90).
Amakler Girl is Black Bitch whelped July ’07 she is by Superman from Sky Alarm (Prince Of Tigers x Sound The Alarm). She is raced by Gloria Stack and trained by Robert Stack the Group 1 Sapphire Crown win took her record to 71 starts for 27 wins and 20 placings and prizemoney earnings of $109,115.
The Sapphire Classic was first run in 1974 as an age restricted race for dogs and bitches. The event was relaunched in 2002 as the Sapphire Crown Classic bitches only feature. Listed below is the impressive list of past winners.
Group 1 Sapphire Crown Classic
Honour Roll
Year Winner Trainer Time
1974 Bristol Sue (SA) Doug Payne 31.11
1975 Dynamic Dean Paul Hogan 30.67
1976 Tawny Brad Greg Durham 30.82
1977 Overflow Love Pat Haas 31.09
1978 Rubin Caine Ted Sallows 30.77
1979 Monica’s Mist John Hellingman 30.74
1980 Worthy Weston Brian Jacobson 30.93
1981 Shamrock Flight Kevin McCabe 31.06
1982 Wynlee Spirit (TAS) Alan Roberts 31.17
1983 Rocky Pyramid Fred Ladd 30.65
1984 Currency Lass Ned Bryant 31.10
1985 Rembrant John Hose 31.06
1986 Sydney Dingaan Ned Bryant 30.83
1987 Rothwell Keith Anderson 30.63
1988 Hogan Len Ketelaar 31.02
1989 Super Gun Eddie Baumgartner 30.81
*1989 Dapto Brandi Darren Murray 30.77
1990 Ravello Robert Britton 30.82
1991 Heza Mullrook Keith Kent 30.42
1992 Dashing Eagle Bob Douglas 30.31
1993 Magnacarter Bill McNally 30.60
1994 Stylish Raider Kevin Byng 30.33
1995 Ben’s Surprise Len Ketelaar 30.34
1996 Sarah’s Deano Marion Siakew 30.30
1997 Token Prince(NSW) Michael Abbott 30.31
1998 Time Framer Philip Newman 30.12
1999 Ashlee Jeannine Peter Giles 29.74
2000 Dutchy’s Angel Tom Dailly 29.74
2001 Let It Be Neil Dicks 29.75
2002 Bye For Now Ian Dann 30.00
2003 Bogie Leigh (QLD) Tony Brett 30.07
2004 Paua To Burn(NSW)Steven White 29.85
2005 Paua To Burn(NSW)Steven White 29.82
2006 Betty’s Angel Paul Bartolo 29.85
2007 Que Sera Sera Angela Langton 29.91
2008 Queen Lauryn Tony Brett 29.79
2009 Cindeen Shelby Kelvyn Greenough 29.72
* Run as the Sandown Auction Classic, July 1989
Thanks for information supplied by Michael Floyd Sandown Media Manager.
| For more information please contact: Neil Brown GCA Publicity Officer Tel: 03 97691234 Mob: 0423 129 950 nbrown@agra.com.au |
David Simonette GCA Executive Officer simonette7862@gmail.com |
