Robert Sangster Bound Viddora Heads 2018 RN Irwin Stakes Field & Odds

Defending champion and early Robert Sangster Stakes favourite for next month, Viddora, is the headline galloper in Saturday’s RN Irwin Stakes 2018 field and odds at Morphettville Racecourse.

Viddora is favourite to successfully defend her RN Irwin Stakes title at Morphettville Racecourse on Saturday. Photo: Jenny Barnes.

The action of the Adelaide Autumn Racing Carnival steps up a notch on the weekend with the running of the Group 3 $120,000 RN Irwin Stakes (1100m).

The weight-for-age sprint attracted a final field of 10 hopefuls including the return of the local Lloyd Kennewell-trained I Am Invincible mare Viddora.

Twelve months ago Viddora won the RN Irwin Stakes before a second to Secret Agenda in the Group 1 $1 million Robert Sangster Stakes (1200m).

Since then the now five-year-old has stamped herself as one of the country’s top sprinters running second to She Will Reign in the Group 1 Moir Stakes (1000m) at The Valley and crossing fourth to Hey Doc in the Group 1 Manikato Stakes (1200m) in Melbourne last spring.

She then travelled to Perth in December and posted a commanding victory in the Group 1 Winterbottom Stakes (1200m) before a January success at the Gold Coast in Queensland’s Magic Millions Sprint (1200m).

Viddora has been freshened-up since, missing the autumn features in Sydney and Melbourne ahead of her return to defend her RN Irwin Stakes title on Saturday.

Drawn a treat in barrier three with regular rider Joe Bowditch in the saddle, Viddora is the dominant $2.50 favourite and market mover in the RN Irwin Stakes odds at Ladbrokes.com.au to add to her strong first-up record (7:2-3-1).

Success will see her become the first back-to-back RN Irwin Stakes winner since Scorn Bold (1996-97) and will further secure her spot at the top of the all-in Robert Sangster Stakes odds for May 5.

Following Viddora in RN Irwin Stakes betting on the weekend are the visiting Victorians Snitty Kitty ($4.80) and the reigning Robert Sangster Stakes champion Secret Agenda ($5.50) drawn the rails.

Snitty Kitty is a four-year-old daughter of ace sire Snitzel prepared by Henry Dwyer who makes her Morphettville debut on Saturday.

She has been racing in top form at home, including her narrow second to Russian Revolution in late February’s Group 1 Oakleigh Plate (1100m).

Her last start at Rosehill on March 24 saw her run fourth to In Her Time in the Group 1 The Galaxy (1100m), Saturday seeing her race over her pet distance (8:3-3-0) again in easier company.

The Mick Price-trained Not A Single Doubt mare Secret Agenda races at Morphettville for the first time since her nearly two length upset in the Robert Sangster a year back.

She won first-up at Flemington in early March before her disappointing ninth to Hellbent last start in the Group 1 William Reid Stakes (1200m) a month ago.

Secret Agenda gets a far easier field to defeat here and gets the run of the race from barrier one.

The local Lee Creek-trained seven-year-old Casino Wizard ($9) and flying Nicconi mare It’s Been A Battle ($9.50) chasing her third win on the trot at the track round out the single-figure chances.

Check out the full RN Irwin Stakes 2018 field and betting markets below, odds open now at Ladbrokes.com.au.