Aviatress and See You In Heaven primed for Group 1 Robert Sangster Stakes at Morphettville on Saturday

Aviatress and See You In Heaven are ready to fire for the local brigade in the Group 1 Robert Sangster Stakes this week.

Aviatress records a dominant victory in the Matrice Stakes at Morphettville. Picture: Makoto Kaneko

Aviatress and See You In Heaven carry local hopes in Saturday’s $1m Robert Sangster Stakes, and trainers Richard and Chantelle Jolly have both of their stable stars primed for the first Group 1 of the Adelaide racing carnival at Morphettville.

The pair enter Saturday’s 1200m sprint ready to fire, yet both have enjoyed different preparations, Aviatress is third-up, and See You In Heaven is resuming following a five-month break between runs.

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Aviatress, a daughter of Smart Missile, was dominant winning the Matrice Stakes (1200m) first-up, before a sixth-placed finish in the Group 3 Irwin Stakes (1100m), where not everything went to plan.

“In my eyes she wasn’t disappointing, she drew (barrier) one and I reckon she was in the gates for five minutes before they jumped, there was a problem with a few loading,” Jolly said.

“She was just in the gates for an eternity and obviously jumped a bit slow and got a bit squeezed up after the start.

“In an 1100m race, you’re on the back foot straight away, she was good on the line and strong late, back to 1200m is going to be better for her. She’s come through the run great and we’re looking forward to Saturday.”

"And has got them on toast!"

Aviatress turns on the afterburners & makes a mess of her rivals in the Northwood Plume 🚀 @[e-mail]/I0aCIyEYwd

— Racing.com (@Racing) October 12, 2024

• Waller on Move for season Group 1 record

See You In Heaven, a five-time Group winner, has a formidable first-up record, her past two first-up runs have resulted in commanding Group 3 wins in the Behemoth Stakes (2023 and 2024).

“We’ve had no problems with her, she’s had some documented hoof issues over her career, just a bit of bruising she gets on the hard tracks, she’s been good this prep, we haven’t had any dramas with her,” he said.

“She’s good first-up, that’s why we waited, she’s been in work for a while to get ready for this, we’re happy with where she’s at.

“The query is whether she’s quite at Group 1 level, but she is against mares, which is always an advantage when you’re against your own sex.”

"She's making a statement, see you in the spring!"

See You In Heaven returns in grand style to win the G3 Behemoth Stakes ⭐️ @RJollyRacingpic.twitter.com/zxnbMJPj1J

— Racing.com (@Racing) August 10, 2024

• Victorians top betting on Adelaide Group 1 features

Premiership-winning hoop Jake Toeroek will pilot Aviatress on Saturday, while Zac Spain, who won The Goodwood in 2022, will ride See You In Heaven.

“They’re both quality mares on their day, I think Aviatress is the one that goes in rock hard fit, she’s probably the one on her ratings that is good enough to win it,” Jolly said.

“See You In Heaven probably has to run right up to her best, that’s why we elected to go first up with her, that’s where she seems to let go and run her best races.

“I’m excited for both of them, it’s hard enough to have one runner, let alone have two chances in it, and to have two bites of the cherry.”

Jolly is also buoyed by the return of Sabaj.

The classy gelding was last seen finishing runner-up to Gala Queen in the Morphettville Guineas on Adelaide Cup day, and has been freshened up ahead of Saturday’s Group 2 Tobin Bronze Stakes (1200m).

“He’s well, he’s a quality horse. Back fresh, he’s galloped quite well the last two weeks, I’m looking forward to that,” he said.

Aviatress is an $11 chance with Sportsbet, while See You In Heaven is a $15 hope for the Group 1 Robert Sangster Stakes.

Originally published as Aviatress and See You In Heaven primed for Group 1 Robert Sangster Stakes at Morphettville on Saturday