The Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott-trained has regained favouritism in 2017 Robert Sangster Stakes betting in Adelaide this weekend despite drawing out wide for the Group 1 sprint at Morphettville Racecourse.
English is back on top of 2017 Robert Sangster Stakes betting for the Morphettville sprint this Saturday. Photo: Steve Hart.
A capacity field of autumn sprinters face off in the $1 million Group 1 Robert Sangster Stakes (1200m) this season and the latest markets at Ladbrokes.com.au have four-year-old English installed as the $4.50 favourite.
She got out to $4.80 after the Robert Sangster Stakes barrier draw on Tuesday, which puts the Group 1 winning daughter of Encosta De Lago in gate 11 with Ben Melham riding.
English was last seen running sixth when failing to defend her title in Randwick’s Group 1 All Aged Stakes (1400m) on April 15, but was far from disgraced beaten only two and a half-lengths on the Heavy (8) track.
She is back down in distance and will be firing on all cylinders running over 1200m for the first time since her excellent second to superstar Chautauqua in the Group 1 TJ Smith Stakes.
Close second favourite now out to $4.80 in Robert Sangster Stakes betting is the Lindsay Park-trained Sheidel, the five-year-old daughter of Holy Roman Emperor out to atone for her last start sixth to Silent Sedition in Moonee Valley’s Group 1 William Reid Stakes (1200m) on March 24.
Winner of the Group 1 Oakleigh Plate (1100m) on Blue Diamond Stakes Day four weeks prior to that, Sheidel is drawn one inside of English for Saturday’s weight-for-age showdown.
Twelve months ago Sheidel finished a luckless second in the Robert Sangster Stakes behind Precious Gem and co-trainer David Hayes is hopeful she can go one better with the right run this season.
“If the interference wasn’t there [last year] she probably would have won,” Hayes told The Advertiser.
“She had a couple of issues which we’ve managed to fix and now she’s a happy horse and when they are happy they normally run accordingly.’’
Two other female runners are currently under $10 for the win with the Group 1 winning filly I Am A Star ($7.50) and market mover Super Cash ($10 into $8).
Rostova (2010) seven years ago was the last three-year-old Robert Sangster Stakes winner and this year the Shane Nichols-trained I Am A Star from barrier two is out to be the next.
She beat the older mares over the Flemington mile in last year’s Myer Classic, but hasn’t won over less than 1400m since May last year when taking out Morphettville’s Group 3 National Stakes.
Plenty of money is rolling in for the Andrew Noblet-trained Written Tycoon four-year-old Super Cash who steps out for the first time since her eighth at Flemington on ‘Super Saturday’ behind Redkirk Warrior in the Group 1 Newmarket Handicap (1200m).
Precious Gem scored the upset Robert Sangster Stakes result as a 20/1 roughie last year and of the double-figure hopes this weekend those with genuine claims include Mick Price’s last start Group 2 winner Secret Agenda ($13), gun local RN Irwin Stakes winner Viddora ($14) and even Missrock ($20).
Check out the latest Robert Sangster Stakes 2017 betting odds below, pricing now open at Ladbrokes.com.au.
