NewsBite

Robert Sangster Stakes runner-by-runner form assessments and selections

Racenet’s Clinton Payne presents his tips and form assessment for each of the runners in Saturday’s Group 1 Robert Sangster Stakes at Morphettville.

Clinton Payne
5 min read
April 23, 2025 - 3:50PM
Stretan Angel has the right form credentials to make her presence felt in the Robert Sangster Stakes at Morphettville on Saturday. Photo: Scott Barbour/Getty Images.
Stretan Angel has the right form credentials to make her presence felt in the Robert Sangster Stakes at Morphettville on Saturday. Photo: Scott Barbour/Getty Images.

The $1 million Robert Sangster Stakes has drawn together a classy field of sprinting fillies and mares and here is our form assessment of each of the runners.

There was a field of 16 runners declared for the 1200m contest.

Here is a runner-by-runner analysis of every horse set to line up on Saturday.

â–  â–  â–  â–  â– 

1 – ASFOORA

Speed machine best known for her performances over 1000m and 1100m. Won the Group 1 King Charles III Stakes (1000m) at Royal Ascot last year. Returned earlier this month and again got the job done in the RN Irwin Stakes (1100m). Wide draw to overcome and yet to win over 1200m.

VERDICT: The last 50m will be her problem.

2 – STRETAN ANGEL

Quality mare that doesn’t win too often but she has contested some of the best sprint races in the land over the past 12 months. Finished a close fourth in the VRC Sprint (1200m) last November and this year was second in the Lightning (1000m), third in the Newmarket (1200m) and fourth in the William Reid (1200m). Drawn a mid gate.

VERDICT: The horse to beat off recent runs.

3 – CLIMBING STAR

Quality mare that won this race last year and since then she’s placed third in The Goodwood (1200m), fifth in the Manikato (1200m) and recently resumed with a strong closing third in the RN Irwin Stakes (1100m). Suited at set weights and has proven herself up to this grade.

VERDICT: One of the leading contenders.

4 – ESTRIELLA

Been terribly out of form for much of the season since winning the Group 2 Caulfield Sprint (1000m) back in October last year. Since then she’s been well beaten three times at Group 1 level in the VRC Sprint (1200m), Oakleigh Plate (1100m) and the Galaxy (1100m). Drawn to get every chance.

VERDICT: Capable with her A-game but not going well enough.

5 – SEE YOU IN HEAVEN

Local mare resuming form a spell. Given a sounding out with the blinkers on in her recent Balaklava trial. Is a proven fresh performer, winning the Group 3 Behemoth in her two previous racing campaigns. Drawn to get every possible chance.

VERDICT: Can make an each-way case for her.

6 – A LITTLE DEEP

Beat the boys in the Chautauqua Stakes last spring at The Valley then placed in two solid mares’ races over 1200m. Resumed at Flemington late last month and took the prize when winning an open handicap with 60kg. Went through her paces winning a jumpout since and looks primed to peak here from a good draw.

VERDICT: Genuine each-way contender.

7 – COMMEMORATIVE

Heavily backed but found one better late in the Group 2 Sapphire Stakes during The Championships. That run followed a somewhat unlucky performance when strung up on the inside in the Group 1 Galaxy (1100m). She’s actually suitably drawn here with an outside barrier as she’s a big girl and appreciates room to move. Her form is solid for this.

VERDICT: Looks well placed of her form this prep.

8 – AVIATRESS

Lightly raced mare with a strong record. Won first-up over 1200m in the Matrice Stakes before a midfield finish last time out when coming back in trip to 1100m and beaten less than two lengths in the RN Irwin Stakes (1100m). She was doing her best work late last time and is better suited back out to 1200m. Drawn favourably.

VERDICT: Not without place claims back up to 1200m.

9 – CHARM STONE

Quality sprinter when at her peak but she’s struggled to recapture what she showed as a three-year-old. Resumes here after a winless campaign which had a couple of solid performances including a close up third in the Rising Fast at Flemington over 1200m on Derby Day. Won a recent trial and the stable do get them to produce fresh. Tricky gate but Mark Zahra’s aboard.

VERDICT: Depends which one turns up but at her best she’d have winning claims.

10 – ROLL ON HIGH

Doesn’t win too often but rarely runs a poor race. Her last two performances have been solid in easier races over 1100m and 1400m. Drawn to get every favour from the inside barrier and capable of racing near the speed. Did beat Stefi Magnetica last year in the Fred best Classic over 1400m.

VERDICT: She’s not the worst.

11 – PRAIRIE FLOWER

Locally-trained mare that is a consistent performer, from 1100m to 1200m. Always around the mark in mares races and was a close up third in the Rubiton Stakes earlier this year before a midfield finish in the Oakleigh Plate (1100m). Her last two run have both been over 1100m and she’s been attacking the line. Wide gate to overcome.

VERDICT: Place claims are strongest.

12 – DAKOTA LEE

Northern Territory galloper chasing a sixth straight win. She’s the winner of 12 from 13 starts with all of her victories coming on the dirt at Alice Springs. Her only defeat was on turf at The Valley in February last year when down the track in a 1000m Benchmark 64 race.

VERDICT: Hard to line up but doubt her form will measure up here.

13 – AUSTMARR

Speed machine that led them a merry dance at Rosehill recently when leading throughout to win the Birthday Card Stakes over 1200m. Since then, she’s been given a tick over trial in Victoria in preparation for this, her toughest assignment. Consistent mare that will give them something to catch.

VERDICT: Will be in this for a long way.

14 – AMEENA

Three-year-old filly returning from a break with two trials under the belt. First-up in the spring she won the Silver Shadow (1200m) beating some of Sydney’s better fillies before a second to Manaal, beating Lazzura, in the Furious Stakes over the same trip. Looked good winning a recent trial and the fillies form mostly held up during the autumn carnival.

VERDICT: Big market watch here.

15 – SHE’S GOT PIZZAZZ

Progressive filly that came to Sydney last time off an on pace second in the VOBIS Gold Dash (1200m) and she then got back and stormed home to score in the PJ Bell Stakes (1200m) at Randwick on the second day of The Championships. Drawn to get all the favours here and she’s a filly on the up.

VERDICT: Can make an each-way case for her.

16 – JASMIN ROUGE

Lightly raced filly going into the deep end here. Impossible to line her form up against the older mares but at just her second start she won a 1200m Group 3 for fillies at Caulfield late last year. Made her 2025 return in the Moomba Plate (1100m) and came from well back to record a solid fourth. Given an easy time in a recent trial and gets Ben Melham from the outside gate.

VERDICT: Faces a task at start four from the outside draw.

â–  â–  â–  â–  â– 

TIPS

1st – STRETAN ANGEL (No. 2)

2nd – CLIMBING STAR (No. 3)

3rd – COMMEMORATIVE (No. 7)

4th – AMEENA (No. 14)

Originally published as Robert Sangster Stakes runner-by-runner form assessments and selections

Add your comment to this story

To join the conversation, please Don't have an account? Register

Join the conversation, you are commenting as Logout

More related stories

Original URL: https://www.news.com.au/sport/superracing/sa-racing/robert-sangster-stakes-runnerbyrunner-form-assessments-and-selections/news-story/842dc598f1ae8a1f6043c4f1e5a2f0c8