The 2017 Dark Jewel Classic is a Group 3 race held annually at Scone Racecourse as part of the two day Scone Cup Racing Carnival.
The Dark Jewel Classic attracts some very talented fillies and mares from across NSW and even from interstate. Major stables in Sydney often send horses. Gai Waterhouse, Chris Waller, Kris Lees and the Hawkes family are just a few of the renowned trainers to have recently entered horses in the Dark Jewel Classic.
Raced across 1400m, the Dark Jewel Classic field is usually comprised of both proven sprinters and experienced mile runners.
Inaugurated in 1996, the Dark Jewel Classic was upgraded to a Listed race in 1999 before receiving Group 3 status following the 2013 edition. Paying an impressive prize pool of $200,000, the Dark Jewel Classic attracts trainers not only for a coveted Group win but also for the lucrative awards received by the victor. Run as the feature race on the second day of the Scone Carnival, the Dark Jewel Classic carries a little more prestige than the average Group 3 race.
The Dark Jewel Classic is a good preparatory race for sprints later in the Brisbane Winter Racing Carnival up north, such as the Dane Ripper Stakes.
Modern editions do not at all resemble the early years of the Dark Jewel Classic, as the improved purse, field and even the track attract more widely raced and successful horses.
2017 Dark Jewel Classic Field
The Dark Jewel Classic field is announced on the Wednesday prior to the race, usually to considerable hype and expectation. One of the major events for fillies and mares over 1400m during that time of year, entrance into the Dark Jewel Classic field is highly contested.
The 2017 Dark Jewel Classic field is provided below.
| # | Form (Last 10) | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Barrier | Weight | Hcp. Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 520x21x137 | ARTISTRY | Peter & Paul Snowden | Hugh Bowman | 2 | 59kg | 105 |
| 2 | 51024×9401 | SHILLELAGH (NZ) | Chris Waller | Tye Angland | 5 | 57kg | 101 |
| 3 | 9x512213x5 | SWEET REDEMPTION | Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott | Adam Hyeronimus | 14 | 57kg | 101 |
| 4 | x5411x3422 | DAYSEE DOOM | Ron Quinton | Andrew Adkins (a) | 3 | 56kg | 99 |
| 5 | 37×8911706 | ELLE LOU | Chris Waller | Glyn Schofield | 12 | 55.5kg | 98 |
| 6 | 30x97x339x | I LOVE IT | John Salanitri | Robert Thompson | 6 | 54kg | 95 |
| 7 | 233x1117x3 | KINSHACHI | Darren Beadman | Christian Reith | 7 | 54kg | 95 |
| 8 | 121435×260 | EXTENSIBLE | Peter & Paul Snowden | Tim Clark | 1 | 53kg | 92 |
| 9 | 13x39x6074 | TSARITSA | Chris Waller | Paul King | 11 | 53kg | 92 |
| 10 | 6850x605x0 | SLIGHTLY SWEET | Jason Coyle | Ms Jess Taylor | 13 | 53kg | 91 |
| 11 | 1x5740x679 | SERENE MAJESTY | Peter & Paul Snowden | Michael Dee | 9 | 53kg | 89 |
| 12 | x45221x242 | PROMPT RESPONSE | Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott | Tommy Berry | 4 | 53kg | 82 |
| 13 | 00478×7605 | JUST A BLUR | Barbara Joseph & Paul Jones | Blaike McDougall (a) | 10 | 53kg | 80 |
| 14 | x21616x281 | HEAVENLY ANNA | Kerry Parker | Jay Ford | 8 | 53kg | 77 |
| 15 | 0x872128x2 | ALL IN THE REFLEXS | Jason Coyle | Ms Kathy O’Hara | 15 | 53kg | 71 |
2017 Dark Jewel Classic Nominations
The Dark Jewel Classic nominations usually feature a healthy range of decent talent. Released on the Monday before the race, the Dark Jewel Classic nominations are often scrutinised heavily by racing fans in an endeavour to determine the makeup of the final field early and thus take advantage of any ante-post markets.
The 2017 Dark Jewel Classic nominations is published here.
Dark Jewel Classic Results
Dark Jewel Classic results since 2001 can be found below.
| Year | Results | Winning Time | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2017 | 1 TBD | 2 TBD | 3 TBD | TBD | 2016 | 1 Danish Twist | 2 Onemorezeta | 3 Press Report | 1:23.88 |
| 2015 | 1 Divertire | 2 Calming Influence | 3 Bound For Earth | 1:23.17 |
| 2014 | 1 Seaside | 2 Aerobatics | 3 Myamira | 1:22.68 |
| 2013 | 1 Arctic Flight | 2 Pipette | 3 Miss Stellabelle | 1:22.86 |
| 2012 | 1 Upon This Rock | 2 Shannara | 3 Rose Of Peace | 1:22.9 |
| 2011 | 1 Shannara | 2 Dane Julia | 3 Pontiana | 1:23.05 |
| 2010 | 1 So Anyway | 2 Purrpurrlena | 3 Melpomene | 1.22.57 |
| 2009 | 1 Rio Osa | 2 Hairy | 3 Portillo | 1:23.63 |
| 2008 | 1 Sung | 2 Judged | 3 Litter | 1:24.19 |
| 2007 | 1 Rosa’s Spur | 2 Alverta | 3 Leica Light | 1:27.12 |
| 2006 | 1 Really Flying | 2 Romare | 3 Fritz’s Princess | 1:24.11 |
| 2005 | 1 Kosta Nothin’ | 2 Zinzin | 3 Magsaya | 1:23.73 |
| 2004 | 1 Romare | 2 My Czech Chick | 3 Native Jester | 1:23.61 |
| 2003 | 1 Chuckle | 2 Faith Hill | 3 Provokes | 1:23.5 |
| 2002 | 1 Hot Riff | 2 Plain Crazy | 3 Expresso Rose | 1:22.27 |
| 2001 | 1 Nanny Maroon | 2 Transfer | 3 Crestfallen | 1:23.21 |
