A dual shot of Group 1 Adelaide racing action at Morphettville on Saturday is headlined by the Robert Sangster Stakes 2017, a comprehensive form guide and betting preview for the sprint classic found below.

Last year’s Robert Sangster Stakes runner-up Sheidel is out to go one better in Saturday’s edition of the Group 1 sprint in Adelaide. Photo: Ultimate Racing Photos.

Running as Morphettville Race 7 at 4:04pm (ACST), this year’s Group 1 Robert Sangster Stakes (1200m) offers a boosted $1 million prize pool and has attracted a capacity field of hopefuls.

The latest Robert Sangster Stakes odds at Ladbrokes.com.au have the Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott-trained mare English as the $4.60 favourite.

The four-year-old hasn’t won since a first-up victory in the Group 2 Challenge Stakes (1000m) in the wet at Randwick in early March, but her TJ Smith Stakes second to Chautauqua two back was excellent.

She comes off a sixth when failing to defend her Group 1 All Aged Stakes (1400m) title in mid-April and back down to 1200m should be flying on the weekend.

The dangers according to Robert Sangster Stakes betting shape-up as Lindsay Park’s recent Oakleigh Plate winning mare Sheidel ($5) and market mover Super Cash ($7.50).

That’s the story told by the bookies but what about the Robert Sangster Stakes 2017 form guide, betting history and statistics?

2017 Robert Sangster Stakes Form Facts & Stats

• Last year’s Robert Sangster Stakes winner was Victorian-trained mare Precious Gem (2016) who came off a Caulfield win, jumped from barrier 6 (of 20) and saluted as a $21 roughie in betting
• Barrier six has produced the past two winners and a total of four (since 1983) and is drawn this year by #8 Now Or Later ($14)
• The most successful Robert Sangster Stakes barrier in that time with five winners is gate nine drawn this year by #13 A Lotta Love ($51)
• The previous Robert Sangster Stakes winning trainers with a runner on the weekend are: Gai Waterhouse (2-1-0-0) with #1 English, Darren Weir (6-1-1-0) with #9 Scarlet Billows, Peter & Paul Snowden (1-1-0-0) with #11 Ravi and Mick Price (8-3-1-0) with #3 Secret Agenda
• The previous Robert Sangster Stakes winning jockeys with a ride on Saturday are: Ben Melham (5-1-0-0) on #1 English, Damien Oliver (6-1-2-0) on #3 Secret Agenda, Dwayne Dunn (16-1-1-1) on #12 Miss Gunpowder, Paul Gatt (12-1-1-2) on #14 Beautiful Flyer and Stephen Baster (7-1-0-2) on #15 Lake Como
• Three of the past five Robert Sangster Stakes winners came off a lead-up win
• The last start winners in the mix this year are: #3 Secret Agenda (Group 2 Sapphire Stakes, Randwick, 1200m, 08/04/2017); #5 Viddora (Group 3 RN Irwin Stakes, 1100m, Morphettville, 22/04/2017); #12 Miss Gunpowder (Benchmark 90, 1200m, Caulfield, 15/04/2017); #14 Beautiful Flyer (F&M Hcp, 1200m, Morphettville, 1200m, 22/04/2017) and #15 Lake Como (Benchmark 84, 1200m, Flemington, 25/04/2017)
• Only three winners in the past decade had their lead-up run at Morphettville
• Two of the past four Robert Sangster Stakes winners came off a run in the RN Irwin Stakes including Dreifeontein (2014) who completed the double
• #5 Viddora ($14) chases this year’s RN Irwin Stakes – Robert Sangster Stakes double
• No Robert Sangster Stakes winner has run worse than fourth in their lead-up run since Rostova (2010)
• Rostova was also the last three-year-old filly to win the Robert Sangster Stakes
• The 3YOs in the field on Saturday are: #17 I Am A Star, #18 Missrock, #19 Legless Veuve, #20 Hear The Chant and emergencies #21e Sweet Sherry and #22e Selenia
• Four-year-old mares have dominated the recent Robert Sangster Stakes results including winning three of the past four editions
• There are 10 four-year-olds in the mix this year including the favourite #1 English ($4.60)

Favourites in Robert Sangster Stakes betting have a poor record with just the one win since 2007 by Black Caviar (2012)

• #2 Sheidel ($5) is out to improve on her second in the Robert Sangster Stakes last autumn
• The highest Win Rate of the field belongs to #2 Sheidel (52%) followed by #17 I Am A Star (43%), #11 Ravi (42%) and #15 Lake Como (40%)
• The best Place Rate of the field belongs to #6 Egyptian Symbol (80%) followed by #2 Sheidel (72%) and #12 Miss Gunpowder (69%)
• The previous winners at the Morphettville track are: #5 Viddora (8-4-0-0), #7 Cavaloce (9-3-1-2), #14 Beautiful Flyer (9-3-2-0), #12 Miss Gunpowder (6-2-2-0), #16 Every Faith (4-1-0-1) and #17 I Am A Star (1-1-0-0)
• The runners with the best record over the distance (1200m) are: #14 Beautiful Flyer (13-5-3-1), #15 Lake Como (11-5-2-0), #2 Sheidel (10-4-2-0), #7 Cavaloce (9-4-2-0), #9 Scarlet Billows (16-4-3-0), #6 Egyptian Symbol (8-3-3-1), #3 Secret Agenda (13-3-4-0), #13 A Lotta Love (13-3-0-3), #10 I Am Zelady (9-2-1-3), #11 Ravi (7-2-1-1), #12 Miss Gunpowder (5-2-0-0) and #20 Hear The Chant (4-1-0-0)

Stay tuned for our insider Robert Sangster Stakes 2017 tips, checking out the full race form guide in the meantime below courtesy of Ladbrokes.com.au.