30 July 2018 | Paul Courts
SAPHIRIQUE joined a select sorority with her victory at Globe Derby last night.
By successfully defending her Southern Cross crown, Saphirique became the 11th filly to retain her title since the futurity’s inauguration in 1984.
Zamboo Anger was the ground breaker in 1985 and ’86, followed by Our Destiny (1991 and ’92), No Frolicking (1995 and ’96), Sorrento Star (1996 and ’97), Thorninmyside (2000 and ’01), Endeared (2005 and ’06), Carlisle Queen (2009 and ’10), Repelem (2010 and ’11), Beauty Secret (2011 and ’12) and Rocknroll Magic in 2015 and ’16.
Zamboo Anger also holds a record destined never to be broken.
Along with her wins in the fillies’ category, Zamboo Anger captured the defunct ‘open’ division in 1985, to be the only triple Final winner.
As for Saphirique, she made a clean sweep of the series by overcoming a wide draw in the Group Two.
Driven by star reinswoman Dani Hill, the daughter of Bettors Delight worked to the lead from seven, with the remainder of the 2230-metre feature becoming a procession.
With Hill sitting quietly in the cart, Saphirique cruised to a 16-and-a-half metre win from Hilltopsomewhere, with Queen Me 21 metres away third in 1:59.
Trained by Brett Bunfield, Saphirique will be given a short break before being aimed at a Breeders’ Crown heat.
“That was a good win,” Bunfield said. “She did very well in the series.
“She looked better than the others on paper, but she still had to go over there and get the job done.
“I will let her have an easy few days now, then get her ready for a Breeders’ Crown heat at Shepparton in a couple of weeks.”
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