Horse Racing

The Robert Sangster Stakes is one of only four Group 1 races held in South Australia at the Morphettville racecourse as part of the esteemed Adelaide Racing Carnival. Conducted by the South Australia Jockey Club (SAJC) the other Group 1 races run are the Australasian Oaks (2000m) on the same day as the Robert Sangster, the Goodwood (1200m) and the South Australian Derby (2500m) held three weeks later on Goodwood Day.

The 2012 Robert Sangster Stakes will run on Saturday April 28th 2012.

The Robert Sangster Stakes is the elite fillies and mares event of the carnival and is run under weight-for-age conditions. Raced over a sprint distance of 1200m the event is worth $300 000. The contending females may have just contested the Group 3 RN Irwin Stakes (1100m) the week before on Adelaide Cup Day, so keep an eye on the dominant fillies and mares in this other weight-for-age event.

As the premier fillies and mares’ race in Adelaide, the event attracts all the best local gallopers and quite often an impressive interstate female will make the trip and claim victory in the Robert Sangster. Good mares that have won the race include Alinghi (2005), Our Egyptian Raine (2003), Apple Danish (1997) and Wight Me (1991).

Robert Sangster Stakes History

The Robert Sangster is one of the younger Australian thoroughbred races, first run in 1983 when Ranee’s Palace claimed victory. The race distance has remained the same from the inaugural race, but the status and race name have seen a number of changes. It began as a special race but became a listed race the next year in 1934. Two years later it gained Group 3 status until 2004 when it was installed as a Group 2 event. The following year in 2005 it became a prestigious Group 1 event. Originally registered and known as the Swettenham Stud Stakes, the race was renamed when it received Group 1 status as the Robert Sangster Stakes in honour of the legendary owner and breeder Robert Sangster who passed away the year before in 2004.

The Robert Sangster Stakes record was set by Dantelah in 1999 with a time of 1:07.9.

Robert Sangster Stakes Recent Winners