Climbing Star and Stretan Angel pose huge threat for Saturday’s $1 million Robert Sangster Stakes

Phillip Stokes has an enviable hand in Saturday’s $1 million Robert Sangster Stakes, and the Group 1-winning handler can hardly separate brilliant mares Climbing Star and Stretan Angel.

Phillip Stokes has an enviable hand in Saturday’s $1 million Robert Sangster Stakes and the Group 1-winning handler can hardly separate brilliant mares Climbing Star and Stretan Angel.

Stokes is pursuing a third win in the Group 1 Sangster. He won with Instant Celebrity in 2021 before Climbing Star snuck up the inside to win last year’s edition, handing Adelaide hoop Lachlan Neindorf a maiden Group 1 triumph.

Returning to Morphettville to defend her crown, Climbing Star is a $5 favourite with Sportsbet fixed odds, while stablemate, Stretan Angel, is a $6.50 second elect, handing Stokes the top two favoured runners in betting.

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Climbing Star produced an eye-catching run first-up in the Group 3 RN Irwin Stakes, finishing half a length behind winner Asfoora.

“I thought Climbing Star’s first-up run was super, she had a setback earlier in her prep, so she was always behind the eight ball – she’s taken good improvement,” Stokes, a South Australian now based in Victoria, said.

“She obviously races very well this time of year, she’s there to run well from a good barrier (seven).

“She’ll run better again in The Goodwood.”

.@LNeindorf wins his first G1! 👑

Climbing Star causes an upset at double figures in the Robert Sangster Stakes ⭐️ @pstokesracingpic.twitter.com/mJ4zHsTJXg

— Racing.com (@Racing) April 27, 2024

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Unlike her stablemate, Stretan Angel is deep into a campaign after three consecutive runs at Group 1 level, featuring placings in the $1 million Black Caviar Lightning (1000m) and $1.5 million Newmarket (1200m) at Flemington.

The daughter of Harry Angel finished fourth in the $1 million William Reid last start at Moonee Valley.

“It’s been a different sort of prep, she’s been racing in elite Group 1s down the straight in Melbourne, her last run at Moonee Valley was a complete forget because the track was so bad,” he said.

“Four weeks between runs and a jumpout between, I’m very happy with her, I don’t think there’s much between the two of them.

“She (Stretan Angel) deserves it (a Group 1 win), fingers crossed she can get that on Saturday. Going into the run we can’t fault her and she’s there to run very well.”

JOLIESTAR wins the @YulongInvest Newmarket Handicap for @cwallerracing and @LaneDamian 🙌

🎥 @Racing#RacingSpectacular#SuperSaturday#AllStarMilepic.twitter.com/GjktkpX7PS

— Victoria Racing Club (@FlemingtonVRC) March 8, 2025

Neindorf had the agonising task of choosing between the two mounts for the Sangster – and the hoop stuck with his Group 1-winner Climbing Star, with Thomas Stockdale to pilot Stretan Angel.

“Earlier in the prep I just thought Stretan Angel was in front of Climbing Star, the prep before they were the other way around, it will come down to luck in running,” Stokes said.

Stokes will saddle up five Group 1 runners on Saturday, the first day of the Adelaide Racing Carnival, with the $1 million Australasian Oaks the first of back-to-back Group 1s on Morphettville’s nine-race card.

Tommy, Kerrin and Phillip Stokes (left to right) celebrate Climbing Star's Sangster win in 2024. Picture: Makoto Kaneko

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Stokes saddles up a trio of runners in the Oaks, a race he has won on two occasions (Marju Snip in 2006 and Maybe Discreet in 2013).

Comanche Miss ($26), Femminile ($41) and Pelevecchio ($51) will represent Stokes in Saturday’s 2000m feature for three-year-old fillies.

Comanche Miss won last month’s Clare Lindop Stakes before getting back from a wide gate in traditional Oaks lead-up the Auraria Stakes (1800m), in which she hit the line for 10th but pulled up lame.

“(It was) nothing too severe, we’ve been happy with her work since,” Stokes said.

“Can she run 2000m? I don’t know, there’s a few question marks.”

Originally published as Climbing Star and Stretan Angel pose huge threat for Saturday’s $1 million Robert Sangster Stakes