Robert Sangster Stakes (TAB Classic)

The TAB Classic is a Group 1 sprint for fillies and mares that is held at Morphettville Racecourse each year. It is held in late April or early May each year and is a standard weight-for-age contest. Mares carry 56.5kg in the race with three-year-old fillies carrying 55kg.

Staged over 1200m, the TAB Classic is registered as the Robert Sangster Stakes. It dates back to 1983 when originally known as the Swettenham Stud Stakes. The race received Group 1 status in 2005 when won by Alinghi who was sent out as the $1.30 favourite for trainer Lee Freedman and jockey Damien Oliver. She raced 16 times for 10 wins and more than $3.4 million in prizemoney. Winning the Blue Diamond at two, Alinghi was third in the Golden Slipper. She would also win the Thousand Guineas and Newmarket Handicap.

The 2002 edition won by the Alan Bailey-trained Suzy Grey was held over 1250m at Cheltenham Park.

Lee Freedman dominated the race as a trainer between 2005-07. First it was Alinghi as mentioned earlier followed by Ellicorsam. Universal Queen would round out the hat-trick for Freedman who prepared the Quinella in 2007 with Media finishing runner up.

The immortal Black Caviar won the 2012 edition as a $1.05 favourite. A field of 10 competed with the Peter Moody-trained mare winning by 4.6 lengths. It was her 20^th-straight victory as she would go on to win The Goodwood at her next start. Black Caviar finished her career an unbeaten 25 from 25, winning $7,953,936 in prizemoney.

The TAB Classic is one of two Group 1 races held on the program. The other is the Schweppes Oaks over 2000m for three-year-old fillies. As of 2019, the TAB Classic is worth $600,000 in prizemoney with the winner receiving $384,000. The race pays down to 10^th with horses that finish between sixth and 10^th receiving $6,000.

Other notable winners of the TAB classic include Dantelah (1999), Our Egyptian Raine (2003), Bel Mer (2009), Platelet (2013), Driefontein (2014), Miracles Of Life (2015) and Shoals (2018).

Miracles Of Life won the Blue Diamond Stakes as a two-year-old. Her win in the Robert Sangster Stakes, or William Hill Classic as it was known that year was her swan song. She also won three Group 2 races during her career.

The 2019 edition of the race was won by Sydney mare Spright, who gave trainer Garry Frazer his first Group 1 in 20 years, and jockey Damien Oliver a Group 1 double on the day.