The Phillip Stokes-trained Climbing Star is poised to make history this Saturday at Morphettville, aiming to become the first horse to win the Group 1 $1 million Robert Sangster Stakes (1200m) in consecutive years.

Climbing Star

Reigning champion Climbing Star is tipped to go back-to-back in the 2025 Robert Sangster Stakes. Photo: Jenny Barnes.

This prestigious South Australian sprint for fillies and mares headlines the Adelaide Autumn Racing Carnival, drawing a final field of 16.

Despite history working against the five-year-old daughter of Zoustar, who is currently the $5 favourite with Ladbrokes, she returns in good form after a narrow third in the Group 3 RN Irwin Stakes (1100m) at the track on April 12th – the same lead-up race she contested before her breakthrough Robert Sangster victory last year as a 25/1 outsider from a wide barrier. This year, she has a more favourable draw in gate seven, with Lachlan Neindorf again in the saddle.

The main danger in Robert Sangster Stakes betting, priced at $6, is Asfoora, who defeated Climbing Star in that recent RN Irwin Stakes. Trained by Henry Dwyer, the classy mare by Flying Artie enjoyed a successful international campaign, highlighted by a Group 1 King Charles III Stakes victory at Royal Ascot. She returns to Morphettville looking to repeat her first-up success over the slightly longer 1200m distance.

In what appears to be a very open edition of the Robert Sangster Stakes, two other runners are also sharing the $6 quote: Stokes’ other runner, Stretan Angel, and the Godolphin-owned Commemorative.

Stokes, who has an impressive recent record in this race with wins in 2021 (Instant Celebrity) and last year, presents Stretan Angel as a strong winning chance. The four-year-old daughter of Harry Angel brings strong Melbourne form lines, including three top-four finishes in Group 1 company, most recently a fourth in the Group 1 William Reid Stakes (1200m) after placing behind Group 1 winners Skybird and Joliestar.

While yet to win beyond 1100m, Stretan Angel has a solid record at Morphettville (one win and three placings from five starts), including a second in last year’s Group 1 The Goodwood after finishing sixth behind Climbing Star in this very race.

Commemorative, trained by James Cummings, faces a wide draw in gate 15 with Blake Shinn aboard. The four-year-old daughter of I Am Invincible was last seen finishing second in the Group 2 Sapphire Stakes at Randwick.

Among the double-figure fancies looking to cause an upset are Peter Moody & Katherine Coleman‘s Group 3 PJ Bell Stakes winner She’s Got Pizzazz ($15), the recent Matrice Stakes winner at this track and distance Aviatress ($17), and the resuming Charm Stone ($17), who was last seen placing second in the $2 million Magic Millions Cup (1400m) back in January.

2025 Robert Sangster Stakes Field & Barriers

No Last 10 Horse Trainer Jockey Barrier Weight Penalty Hcp Rating
1 204x4124x1 ASFOORA Henry Dwyer Mitchell Aitken 14 56.5kg 114
2 2x6384x234 STRETAN ANGEL Phillip Stokes Thomas Stockdale 10 56.5kg 108
3 1213x596x3 CLIMBING STAR (NZ) Phillip Stokes Lachlan Neindorf 7 56.5kg 108
4 15x4719x00 ESTRIELLA Ciaron Maher Ben Allen 2 56.5kg 105
5 240x14230x SEE YOU IN HEAVEN Richard & Chantelle Jolly Zac Spain 3 56.5kg 102
6 26x11228x1 A LITTLE DEEP Ciaron Maher Ethan Brown 5 56.5kg 101
7 41x24x3172 COMMEMORATIVE James Cummings Blake Shinn 15 56.5kg 100
8 x324114x16 AVIATRESS Richard & Chantelle Jolly Jake Toeroek 6 56.5kg 100
9 115x738x2x CHARM STONE Mick Price & Michael Kent (Jnr) Mark Zahra 12 56.5kg 97
10 5x60753x23 ROLL ON HIGH Peter G Moody & Katherine Coleman Daniel Stackhouse 1 56.5kg 97
11 8×25113824 PRAIRIE FLOWER Will Clarken & Niki O’Shea Ms Kayla Crowther 13 56.5kg 96
12 1x91x11x11 DAKOTA LEE Terry Gillett Stan Tsaikos 9 56.5kg 95
13 x42119x441 AUSTMARR Anthony & Sam Freedman Jamie Mott 11 56.5kg 92
14 1129x1277x AMEENA Anthony & Sam Freedman Ms Jamie Melham 8 54.5kg 94
15 32x151x621 SHE’S GOT PIZZAZZ Peter G Moody & Katherine Coleman Jordan Childs 4 54.5kg 88
16 31×4 JASMIN ROUGE Clinton McDonald Ben Melham 16 54.5kg 76

Table Credit: Racing Australia.

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About The Author

Lucy Henderson

Lucy is an experienced horse racing journalist that has been a crucial member of the horseracing.com.au team for the better part of a decade. She has taken great delight in covering champion mares Black Caviar and Winx throughout their careers and always has a soft spot for a winning filly.