Sapphire sizzles on reappearance

Dermot Weld’s Sapphire made a spectacular seasonal debut at Cork yesterday when sweeping to an easy success in the Group 3 Kerry Group Noblesse Stakes.

Partnered by Pat Smullen, the rapidly improving daughter of Medicean travelled like a dream through the contest.

Smullen asked her to lead with over two furlongs to go and Sapphire exploded clear to beat the running-on Betterbetterbetter by four and three quarter lengths.