A quality line-up of fillies and mares head to Morphettville on Saturday for the Group 1 $502,250 Robert Sangster Stakes (1200m), and it is Bella Nipotina continuing her travels round the country heading betting on the latest Adelaide Autumn Racing Carnival feature.

Bella Nipotina heads 2023 Robert Sangster Stakes betting on the Adelaide Group 1 this weekend. Photo: Ultimate Racing Photos.

The Ciaron Maher & David Eustace-trained Pride Of Dubai five-year-old is in South Australia this weekend having come from Perth where she missed the kick and blew her chances of taking out the inaugural $4 million The Quokka at Ascot.

She fought hard late and was huge running under a length back third to Overpass in another big performance from the $3.9 million earner.

Bella Nipotina is after her first win since last October’s Group 1 Manikato Stakes (1200m) at The Valley which she won by nearly five lengths.

Drawn a treat in barrier two with Ben Melham continuing associations and bonny Bella looks a nice price out to $4 through Ladbrokes now to atone for her near miss last start and return to winning form.

The Maher/Eustace stable won last year’s Robert Sangster Stakes with Snapdancer with Bella Nipotina running fifth.

Along with the favourite on Saturday they also saddle-up last year’s Oakleigh Plate winner Marabi ($12) and progressive Tavistock filly Ruthless Dame ($15) in the 2023 event.

Bella Nipotina meanwhile is joined at single-figure Robert Sangster Stakes odds by the firming market mover Zapateo ($5) for the Godolphin stable and the Grahame Begg-trained Passive Aggressive ($5) drawn the rails.

James Cummings’ Brazen Beau four-year-old Zapateo chases her third win on the trot coming off back-to-back Sydney wins in the Group 3 Birthday Card Stakes (1200m) and a 2.4 length romp home in the Group 2 Sapphire Stakes (1200m) on April 8.

Passive Aggressive is looking to atone after her unplaced run (11^th) to I Wish I Win on April 1 in Randwick’s Group 1 TJ Smith Stakes (1200m).

She was over eight-lengths beaten on the Heavy (9) but will relish firmer going here having beaten a class field including Eduardo (2^nd) and The Everest champ Giga Kick (3^rd) the run prior in the Group 2 Challenge Stakes (1000m).

Begg is confident his class mare has what it takes to bounce back in the Robert Sangster.

“It was a terrible track,” Begg told Racenet this week.

“She’s in good shape. She had a jump-out last week at Cranbourne to fit her up for Saturday’s race, she’s trained on well. We’re very happy with her.

“Hopefully they don’t get too much more (rain than forecast).”

The 2023 Robert Sangster Stakes is set to run as Morphettville Race 7 at 3:25pm (ACST).

2023 Robert Sangster Stakes Field & Barriers

Table Credit: Racing Australia.