The fillies are tipped to finish on top in Saturday’s Robert Sangster Stakes 2024 with the in-form Estriella heading markets on the Group 1 at Morphettville.
Estriella is clear favourite in 2024 Robert Sangster Stakes betting for Morphettville this weekend. Photo: Ultimate Racing Photos.
Punters are treated to a double shot of elite level racing as the Adelaide Autumn Carnival gets into full swing on the weekend.
The meeting’s marquee race is the Group 1 $1 million Robert Sangster Stakes (1200m) for fillies and mares.
The latest markets on the field of 14 are led by Ciaron Maher’s three-year-old daughter of I Am Invincible, Estriella, who pays current Robert Sangster Stakes odds of $3 through Ladbrokes.com.au to post her fourth win on the trot.
The up-and-comer has won a hat-trick in Melbourne taking out the Group 3 Kevin Hayes Stakes, $1 million Inglis Sprint, and Listed Sunlight Classic back in February – March.
A Group 2 runner-up from last year, her form this prep has been imposing including the Sunlight at Flemington that she took out by a commanding 2.5 lengths from barrier 14 of 15 with 56.5kg.
She ticks plenty of boxes now heading to Morphettville for the first time, runs out the 1200m strongly, and even from wider out in gate 11 for jockey Mark Zahra presents a winning hope.
Estriella is followed in the Robert Sangster Sakes betting markets by a host of close fancies including I Am Me ($6), Benedetta ($7), and Zapateo ($8) all hot on her heels.
The fellow Maher-trained I Am Me boasts a 50% winning strike rate over the distance (8:4-1-1) and is after he first win since the Group 3 Sydney Stakes (1200m) at Randwick last October.
The now five-year-old was a back-to-back Group 1 runner-up following that in the Manikato to Imperatriz and Sir Rupert Clarke behind Magic Time.
Fresh she was third to the since retired Imperatriz in the Group 1 William Reid Stakes (1200m) at Moonee Valley 2.2 lengths beaten on March 23 with improvement to come now fitter second-up.
She is drawn to get a charmed run from barrier two with Blake Shinn aboard looking to hand Maher with his third straight Robert Sangster trophy following his recent successes with Snapdancer (2022) and Ruthless Dame (2023) in partnership with David Eustace.
Jason Warren saddles-up Benedetta from the inside alley in the Robert Sangster Stakes field this year with Daniel Stackhouse riding the last start Group 3 RN Irwin Stakes (1100m) winner.
The four-year-old daughter of Hellbent relished a drop in grade after fourth place efforts in the Group 1 Oakleigh Plate and Group 1 Newmarket Handicap this prep to win her Morphettville lead-up on April 13.
She did it narrowly from gate 10 that day and is up to 1200m now ready to go again and be the first to complete the RN Irwin – Robert Sangster Stakes double since Driefontein (2014).
Zapateo is also a last start winner being kept safe in the markets with the airborne Jamie Kah aboard James Cummings’ talented Brazen Beau mare in gate three.
She has head two previous runs at Morphettville for two thirds including rounding out the Robert Sangster Stakes trifecta last autumn.
Her form of late has been spot on and includes a lead-up upset over Sunshine In Paris at Rosehill in the Group 1 The Galaxy (1100m) on March 23.
Zapateo won that with 53kg and rises to 56.5kg on the weekend, but looks a big chance from a good gate with a gun hoop and plenty of stats in her favour.
In an open edition a number of other runners follow closely looking potential value including dual Challenge Stakes winner Passive Aggressive ($11), the local Phillip Stokes-trained Harry Angel filly Stretan Angel ($11) coming off a Listed Redelva second here, and Annabel Neasham’s Justify filly Learning To Fly ($14) last seen finishing fourth in Sydney’s Group 1 Surround Stakes (1400m) back in early March.
Click here for the latest Robert Sangster Stakes 2024 odds courtesy of Ladbrokes.com.au.
2024 Robert Sangster Stakes Final Field & Barrier Draw
| No | Last 10 | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Barrier | Weight | Penalty | Hcp Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 3x3506x321 | ZAPATEO | James Cummings | Ms Jamie Kah | 3 | 56.5kg | 112 | |
| 2 | 17x16122x3 | I AM ME | Ciaron Maher | Blake Shinn | 2 | 56.5kg | 110 | |
| 3 | 1x4x108x16 | PASSIVE AGGRESSIVE | Grahame Begg | Jordan Childs | 6 | 56.5kg | 110 | |
| 4 | 3x1134x441 | BENEDETTA | Jason Warren | Daniel Stackhouse | 1 | 56.5kg | 108 | |
| 5 | x52x5010x3 | ROOTS | Chris Waller | James McDonald | 9 | 56.5kg | 108 | |
| 6 | x21615x007 | SKEW WIFF (NZ) | Mark Walker | Michael Dee | 5 | 56.5kg | 104 | |
| 7 | 9x29825x12 | CLIMBING STAR (NZ) | Phillip Stokes | Lachlan Neindorf | 14 | 56.5kg | 97 | |
| 8 | 7x1117x012 | LEMPICKA | Ken & Kasey Keys | Blaike McDougall | 4 | 56.5kg | 96 | |
| 9 | 1×14243031 | WONDERFUL TONIGHT | Sam Mynott | Craig Williams | 12 | 56.5kg | 93 | |
| 10 | 353218×014 | SNAPPED | Anthony & Sam Freedman | Todd Pannell | 7 | 56.5kg | 92 | |
| 11 | 143x645x21 | WALTZ ON BY | Peter G Moody & Katherine Coleman | Billy Egan | 8 | 56.5kg | 91 | |
| 12 | 1226×111 | ESTRIELLA | Ciaron Maher | Mark Zahra | 11 | 54.5kg | 100 | |
| 13 | 111Lx24 | LEARNING TO FLY | Annabel Neasham | Chad Schofield | 13 | 54.5kg | 95 | |
| 14 | 21x217x42 | STRETAN ANGEL | Phillip Stokes | Damian Lane | 10 | 54.5kg | 92 |
Table Credit: Racing Australia.
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