2025 Robert Sangster Stakes Day Tips & Preview

REGAL AZMON (7) is a track and distance winner who appears incredibly well-placed to strike third-up. 

The seven-year-old son of Magnus was unlucky not to win last start at Caulfield over 1400m, storming the line out wide before being held up badly over the final furlong on his way to finishing third. 

His late sectionals that day suggest the rise in trip will suit, alongside the 5.5kg drop in weight with Lachlan Neindorf taking over from a nice soft gate.        

PETIT ARTISTE (3) made it look easy last start when claiming the Listed Without Fear Stakes in a bit of a canter under Daniel Stackhouse. 

She’s only a small filly, but she packed a serious punch once she got into the clear down the outside, storming the line for a comfortable win of close to 3.5 lengths with plenty left to give through the line. 

By Irish Group 1 winner Earthlight, the rise to 1200m doesn’t look a query off that effort, and she should be afforded a nice launching pad from midfield this time with Stackhouse retaining the ride from a softer gate.                     

MANOLO BLING (7) gave nothing else a chance fresh at Bendigo on Golden Mile Day a fortnight ago, making every post a winner for a comfortable two-length win over the same journey. 

This is her first look at Morphettville, but she maps to adopt similar front-running tactics here under Ben Melham, who jumps aboard carrying only 54kg after the pair won together on Cup Day last year at Flemington. 

KARACASU (5) is one I could entertain here as well at each-way odds. It’s been a while since he last won, but he loomed up nicely along the rail in the Matrice Stakes a couple of weeks ago and stuck on well for fourth. The booking of Zac Spain also signals some intent for mine.  

SAINT EMILION (4) has the wide gate to contend with, but this rise to 2000m should still suit second-up with Mark Zahra piloting. 

The Snitzel gelding appeared in need of the run when he was last to greet the judge in the Carbine Club Stakes over the mile at Randwick to start the month, but keep in mind the wet track and the wide gate were also against him that day. 

Getting back on top of the ground only strengthens his claims here, and we already know he’s good over these longer staying trips after he came out and won the Geelong Classic over a bit further last October.     

Really good sprint race here with a case to be made for more than a few in the 2025 Tobin Bronze Stakes. 

IMPERIAL FORCE (1) is a tough little three-year-old who has been sent south by Bjorn Baker, coming off a gutsy runner-up effort in the Arrowfield Sprint at Randwick two weeks ago. 

The son of Snitzel led for most of the way before going down in a headbob to Enriched, fighting back at the 100m mark in what was a huge effort third-up.  

He was found to have some issues post-race, but providing he’s pulled up okay, I dare say he’ll be very hard to run down again as one of the frontrunners with Jamie Melham on board now.   

You have to respect JENNILALA (4) here, back from a bit of a break for Gavin Bedggood. 

We last saw this mare win the Matron Stakes at Flemington over the mile last month, where she let rip down the centre of the straight, winning by half a length after grabbing the lead at the 50m mark.  

Her fresh record (6:4-0-1) is imposing, and she’s been given a nice little jump out between starts to keep her sharp. If she gets a nice sit off the speed again under Craig Newitt, who’s carrying only 2kg extra, she should be very hard to hold out in the Queen Of The South. 

MOVIN OUT (3) on the quick backup off last week’s Mornington Guineas win feels like a real power play from trainer Chris Waller. 

This impressive Kiwi filly settled right back at the tail of the field over the mile before making a move approaching the turn under Ben Melham, rounding up the field to go on and win by 2.5 lengths after gunning down Fear No Evil around the 200m mark. 

It’s taken her a few runs to put it all together since arriving in Australia, but her late sectionals from last week back up the decision to tackle 2000m. 

The inside gate this time might call for different tactics, but on talent alone, she isn’t far off a couple of these more seasoned Group 1 performers. 

A LITTLE DEEP (6) is one of the more intriguing runners going around in the Sangster at a good price. 

This mare by Deep Field really knuckled down to win well first-up at Flemington last month, settling third-last in the early stages before finding clear air down the centre of the straight to grab the lead and hold on over the final 100m or so. 

Off that, she’s open to big improvement second-up and has since come out and won a Cranbourne jump out quite handily ahead of the equally talented New York Lustre. 

Out to 1200m now, where she’s missed the money only once from four starts, I’m keen to have something on her each-way given her upside. 

ALBERTVILLE (9) was well-backed fresh at Mornington to start the month and did not disappoint, winning by half a length. 

Clinton McDonald’s gelding is only lightly raced, but there was a bit to like about that effort after sitting back early off the speed and looping up the field down the outside to win quite softly on the line. 

He’ll take big benefit away from that win, and with Jamie Melham retaining the ride, I think he’ll be very hard to hold out again, providing he isn’t wanting further now.