3 minute read

It was the girls time to shine in Adelaide with the Sangster and Oaks.

Climbing Star was an unfancied winner of the Group 1 Sangster Stakes (1200m) but has beaten a strong field of fillies and mares and taken her maiden Group One.

She'd clearly come back well, dominant at listed level first up before closing off nicely behind Benedetta in the Group 3 R N Irwin Stakes (1100m) but has improved again here, running to 115.

The pace was good but not unreasonable, with Zahra actually pacing his race almost perfectly on Estriella. Perhaps a strong 1200m at this level just found her out for now as she's regressed 13 pounds off her win prior.

Climbing Star had gone 108-111 in her two runs this time in and it's hard to make excuses for the beaten brigade, bar perhaps Learning To Fly who had the best splits, but definitely never hit the front.

In terms of Sangster winners, 115 is just on the higher side of average. In the past five years, the best winner is Snapdancer who ran to 116 (but then improved to a peak of 118 in her Memsie win).

Climbing Star is better than the other four winners in the past five years, withBella Vella at 111 the lowest in that period.

Given the time looks solid and the splits are good, there's every reason to take this piece of form as true. For reference, Amelia's Jewel is rated 115 and ran to that number last start in The Quokka.

There's a chance both could clash in The Goodwood in two weeks' time if Climbing Star heads that way, and I don't think many people would think Climbing Star is anywhere near the ability of Amelia's Jewel, and I'm sure the market would reflect that.

Vibrant Sun was a tough winner of the Group 1 Australasian Oaks (2000m) who crossed to lead and held on when looking beaten a few times. They've run much faster overall time than the boys in the Chairman's Stakes over the same trip earlier, but the rating isn't strong.

Vibrant Sun hasn't had to do anything she hadn't done in her Group 3 Alexandra Stakes (1600m) win prior, running to 107 on Saturday.

Without having looked at everything, I'd have to think the Australasian Oaks is, at least recently, the lowest Group One on the calendar.

107 is actually an improvement on a few in recent years. It's the same rating that Glint Of Hope ran two years ago, and three pounds higher than both Affaire A Suivre and Media Award (104) ran in 2023 and 2021 respectively, which are the lowest ratings I've ever seen win a Group One in Australia.

Unfortunately, none of those three past winners have ever won another race. Affaire A Suivre ran fifth in the Queensland Oaks the start after and then was awful last preparation while Glint Of Hope and Media Award never troubled the top three again.

Still, as with any lightly raced three-year-old, there's reason to be optimistic and Vibrant Sun did this off missing a lead-up run which can count for something. I'd be surprised if this provides the winner of the Queensland Oaks though, especially if Autumn Angel goes there instead of the derby.