Oakvale Destiny Takes Out The 2014 Group One Sapphire Crown
Oakvale Destiny (5) and Oakvale Flyer (8) ran the quinella for Jeff Britton in the Group One Sapphire Crown at Sandown Park on Thursday night. The two sisters by Vapour Whirl – Foot Luce (Hallucinte – Scarlett) finished strongly to prevail over third placegetter Prue Bale (1).
The race wasn't without its drama as race favourite Zelemar Fever (3) took a nasty tumble not long out of the boxes. She got squeezed for room between Hot Dream (4) and You Say Goodbye (2), did a somersault and was immediately out of contention. Best away was her kennelmate Te Amo (6), who crossed to lead the field into the first turn and down the back straight. Amadeus Strikes (7) was away well but posted wide and Prue Bale was prominent on the rails.
Oakvale Destiny was pretty much last away from the boxes while Oakvale Flyer used box eight well to move into a midfield position. Oakvale Destiny displayed great field sense and chasing instinct to muster up and hunt underneath Amadeus Strikes around the turn. She then pushed up into third position and from there she looked the winner as she was only three lengths off Te Amo. Oakvale Destiny then whipped around Prue Bale and Te Amo and took the lead running into the home straight. Oakvale Flyer was also flying down the outside to go in pursuit of her sister turning for home.
Oakvale Destiny scored by just over one length to Oakvale Flyer in 29.91. Prue Bale was another length away in third. After the race Jeff Britton noted that he thought he was in with a good show once Oakvale Flyer got to third.
“Down the back I thought she was a big show. Te Amo is not known to be strong and the tracks not a super fast track, so it probably suited us down to the ground,” Britton said.
“I started to watch the eight because I saw the five fall out, so I started to watch the eight. Eventually I seen her (Oakvale Destiny) in third down the back and I thought it was a nice surprise.”
Naturally, Britton was happy to get one up on his siblings Linda and Rob, who also had runners in the race.
“It's just fantastic. It's about my turn because they've been winning Group races and its about my go I reckon.”
The Sapphire Crown was Oakvale Destiny's fifth win from 12 starts. The blue bitch has now earned in excess of $100,000 prize money for connections.
Full Results
1st: Oakvale Destiny (5) – Jeffrey Britton
2nd: Oakvale Flyer (8) – Jeffrey Britton
3rd: Prue Bale (1) – Andrea Dailly
4th: Amadeus Strikes (7) – Robert Britton
5th: Te Amo (6) – Linda Britton
6th: You Say Goodbye (2) – Stephen McKenna
7th: Hot Dream (4) – Paul Galea
Fell: Zelemar Fever (3) – Linda Britton
Time: 29.91
1st Split: 5.06
2nd Split: 19.02
Margins: 1 x 1
Scratchings: Lady Toy (9), Mahogany Saphire (10)