The Phillip Stokes trained Climbing Star is favourite to achieve the historic feat of dual wins when she defends her title in Saturday’s 2025 Robert Sangster Stakes at Morphettville.

The Adelaide Autumn Racing Carnival moves into Group 1 territory this weekend with two features on card including the meeting’s marquee event, the $1 million Robert Sangster Stakes (1200m).

The famous South Australian sprint race has drawn a final field of 16 fillies and mares with the current Robert Sangster Stakes odds online at Ladbrokes.com.au led by the reigning champ Climbing Star at $5.

To date, no runner has gone back-to-back in the Robert Sangster meaning history is against the Zoustar five-year-old on Saturday.

Still, the money is there for Climbing Star to become the first two-time hero after her good return when running a narrow first-up third in the Group 3 RN Irwin Stakes (1100m) at the track on April 12.

She was second in that same lead-up race before her Robert Sangster win in 2024 from barrier 14 as a 25/1 outsider.

This year she is drawn a more favourable gate seven with Lachlan Neindorf continuing associations.

The danger following closely in Robert Sangster Stakes betting at $6 is Climbing Star’s last start conqueror, Asfoora.

The classy Henry Dwyer trained Flying Artie mare enjoyed a successful international campaign last year highlighted by her Group 1 King Charles III (1005m) win at Royal Ascot.

She returned down under to salute fresh in the RN Irwin and now returns to the track looking to win again up in grade and distance.

In one of the most open editions of the Robert Sangster in recent history, a further two runners are also at $6 at time of publish with Stokes’ other runner Stretan Angel and the Godolphin raced Commemorative.

Stokes chases his third win in five years having also won in 2021 with Instant Celebrity and, along with last year’s champ, Stretan Angel lines-up as a genuine winning chance for the stable.

The four-year-old daughter of Harry Angel brings some strong form lines in from Melbourne with three top four runs in Group 1 company.

Fresh she was a length second to Skybird at Flemington paying 20/1 in the Group 1 Black Caviar Lightning (1000m) before franking that with a third behind Joliestar down the straight in the Group 1 Newmarket Handicap (1200m).

At her latest she was fourth at The Valley in the Group 1 William Reid Stakes (1200m) on March 22 and she has been kept fit with a winning jump out at her home Pakenham course on April 15.

While yet to win over further than 1100m, Stretan Angel has a strong record at the Morphettville track (5:1-3-0) including her second in last year’s Group 1 The Goodwood (1200m) on the back of a sixth to Climbing Star in this race.

Commemorative meanwhile lines-up for trainer James Cummings out wide in gate 15 with Blake Shinn in the saddle of the I Am Invincible four-year-old who was last seen running second in Randwick’s Group 2 Sapphire Stakes.

Of the double figure fancies those lining up as the most likely for an upset include Peter Moody & Katherine Coleman‘s last start Group 3 PJ Bell Stakes winning Zoustar filly She’s Got Pizzazz ($15), recent Matrice Stakes winner at the track and trip Aviatress ($17), and the resuming Charm Stone ($17) last seen running second in the Gold Coast’s $2 million Magic Millions Cup (1400m) back in January.

The 2025 Robert Sangster Stakes is set to run as Morphettville Race 8 at 4:12pm (ACST).