Ciaron Maher perfectly poised to secure Group 1 Robert Sangster hat-trick with either Estriella or I Am Me

Racenet has key insights for this year's Robert Sangster Stakes race.

Boom filly Estriella has trainer Ciaron Maher very excited, but stablemate I Am Me is not to be overlooked in the Group 1 Robert Sangster Stakes (1200m) at Morphettville on Saturday.

The two Maher-trained sprinters headline early betting for Saturday's $1 million sprint, with Estriella the hype filly following three impressive wins in a row, and I Am Me already proven at the elite level with Group 1 placings.

"She (I Am Me) beat Bella Nipotina in Sydney, she's beaten some really good horses," Maher said.

"There's not a lot between them, one is a bit older and a bit stronger, the other one has got a lot of ability and is going to that 'A league' for the first time."

Estriella - a three-year-old filly by I Am Invincible - produced a breathtaking win in the Listed Sunlight Classic (1100m) last start after a win in the $1 million Inglis Sprint (1200m) that saw Maher describe the filly as "special".

"I'm very happy with her. She's a filly that has improved a lot basically her whole career, but she's gone to another level this preparation," he said.

"We have spaced her runs, she was very good at Caulfield and at Flemington she was great, but I thought she was fairly controlling in her last run."

The Group 1-winning trainer has full confidence that the filly is ready to rise up to Group 1 level.

READ: Caulfield preview and tips: $16 best value

"It's obviously a big step up for a three-year-old when they go against the older (horses) but she's got that bit of X-factor about her. She's certainly got the ability," Maher said.

With all four of Adelaide's Group 1 races rising to $1 million this year and beyond, the injection of prizemoney helped convince owner Kevin Payne that the Sangster was the right rein to pull.

"Because she's Arrowfield and he's (Payne) got a good relationship with them, the Arrowfield (Sprint) in Sydney was a bit of a lure, but it would've been a two-week turnaround and travel, she's a horse that's still maturing," Maher said.

"The prizemoney injection certainly did help her case, because he was quite keen to go to Sydney."

Mark Zahra will pilot the filly on Saturday from barrier 11, with Blake Shinn set to partner I Am Me (barrier two).

Zahra has ridden the filly at trackwork, but is yet to hop aboard on race day.

"He trialled her the other day, they (Estriella and I Am Me) trialled together and they were both very good. Mark had a good feel of her," Maher said.

Wowza! Ã°ÂŸÂ’Â¥

Estriella is far too good for them in the Sunlight Classic. Ã°ÂŸÂ¤Â©@cmaherracing @blake_shinn pic.twitter.com/qgyZ1MFbjY

- 7HorseRacing Ã°ÂŸÂÂÂÅ½ (@7horseracing) March 30, 2024

I Am Me will tackle her fifth Group 1 in the Sangster, the five-year-old mare has placed in her last three Group 1 attempts.

"This has been a target for her for quite awhile, she's in great order - she was very good fresh-up," he said.

"You look at the horses that have beaten her, (such as) Imperatriz, she's got the right form and Dynamic Syndications are a massive supporter of the stables."

Maher is chasing a hat-trick of Sangster wins after winning last year's race with Ruthless Dame, and in 2022 with Snapdancer.

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"Early in my career I spent a fair bit of time in Adelaide in the Barossa Valley, so I love getting back over there and seeing everyone," he said.

Maher also has smart colt Growing Empire ($3) in the Group 3 Breeders' Stakes (1200m) on Saturday.

"(He's) a very progressive colt, he had quite a good win at stakes level last start, hopefully he can get the job done early and (we can) repeat the dose later in the day," he said.

Estriella is $3 favourite with TAB fixed odds for the Group 1 Sangster Stakes, ahead of I Am Me ($5.50).

Morphettville Race 8 Form Guide WIN PLACE
Sportsbet Robert Sangster Stakes (1200m)
9th 1 Zapateo (3) Jamie Kah 56.5kg	8	8.5	9	8.5	8.5	8.4	10.5	8.5	8.6	9	8	8.5
4th 2 I Am Me (2) Blake Shinn 56.5kg	4.8	5	5	4.8	5	4.5	6	5	5.1	4.8	4.8	5
11th 3 Passive Aggressive (6) Jordan Childs 56.5kg	9	8.5	9	9.5	9	7	30	9	9.6	9.5	9.5	9
3rd 4 Benedetta (1) Daniel Stackhouse 56.5kg	8.5	9	9	8.5	9	11.5	790	8.5	8.5	9.5	8.5	9
14th 5 Roots (9) James Mc Donald 56.5kg	21	23	29	26	26	9.4	800	26	26.5	21	26	26
13th 6 Skew Wiff (5) Michael Dee 56.5kg	101	71	126	71	91	13	910	71	73	71	126	91
1st 7 Climbing Star (14) Lachlan Neindorf 56.5kg	31	26	31	26	27	9.4	80	26	27	31	26	27
12th 8 Lempicka (4) Blaike Mc Dougall 56.5kg	101	71	101	81	81	6	920	71	77	81	101	81
10th 9 Wonderful Tonight (12) Craig Williams 56.5kg	151	91	151	101	126	12	930	101	111	91	126	126
8th 10 Snapped (7) Todd Pannell 56.5kg	81	67	101	81	81	13	140	71	85	81	101	81
7th 11 Waltz On By (8) Billy Egan 56.5kg	34	27	34	34	31	11.5	910	31	35	31	29	31
5th 12 Estriella (11) Mark Zahra 55.5kg (a0.5)	2.8	2.8	2.8	2.7	2.8	1.92	3.3	2.8	2.65	2.8	2.8	2.8
2nd 13 Learning To Fly (13) Chad Schofield 54.5kg	10	10	11	11	10	11	65	10	10.6	11	10	10
6th 14 Stretan Angel (10) Damian Lane 54.5kg	26	26	34	26	27	11	60	31	24.5	26	29	27
Market percentage	121	122	114	120	119	198	66	120	120	118	119	119
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