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Who wins the UBET Classic? That's the $1 Million Question

A sensational field has assembled for Saturday's $1 Million Group One UBET Classic with the Gai Waterhouse trained English the early $5 favourite with UBET. 

The big question will be, can the 'Magic Man' Joao Moreira continue his unbeaten record on the David & Ben Hayes & Tom Dabernig trained Sheidel who was runner up in last year's UBET Classic behind Precious Gem? 

The three Group 1 winners in the field are at the top of the UBET market for Saturday's clash with English at $5, Sheidel $5.50 and I Am a Star at $7.

Group 2 winner Super Cash is the only other horse in single figures at $7.50 and will be partnered by jockey Katelyn Mallyon, who rode the mare to the Group 2 Rubiton win earlier this year beating I Am a Star and Chautauqua.

Local trainer Lloyd Kennewell was confident that his mare Viddora would be a good chance in the Group 1 UBET Classic at this morning's Festival of Racing media launch, saying that the mare has been set for this race and that she has avoided the heavy tracks that some of her interstate rivals had been racing on of late.

There are two other local hopes in the race with the Will Clarken trained Cavaloce who will have the services of gun Victorian jockey Mark Zahra and Beautiful Flyer who is trained by Len Jarvis out of Murray Bridge. 

Victorian trainer Mick Price is shooting for his fourth UBET Classic after first winning the race way back in 1998 with Spirit of Love. He will have last start winner Secret Agenda in the race who will be ridden by Damien Oliver.

Sydney trainers Peter & Paul Snowden return to Adelaide after taking out this race in 2015 with Miracles of Life. They will saddle up Ravi in the race with Kerrin McEvoy to take the ride on the mare who was last seen a month ago when she ran fourth in the Group 2 Sapphire at Randwick behind Secret Agenda and Missrock.

Other Sydney based trainers to make the trip over for the UBET Classic are Bjorn Baker who has $12 chance Egyptian Symbol and Joe Pride who trains I Am Zelady.

Previous winners of the UBET Classic (Robert Sangster Stakes)

Year Horse Starting Price Run in Preparation Last Run
2016 Precious Gem $20.20 3rd Up 1st Listed Anniverary Vase Caulfield 1400m
2015 Miracles of Life $4.40 3rd Up 3rd Group 1 Galaxy Rosehill 1100m
2014 Driefontein $7.20 6th Up 1st Group 3 Irwin Morphettville 1100m
2013 Platelet $12.70 3rd Up 2nd Group 3 Irwin Morphettville 1100m
2012 Black Caviar $1.10F 4th Up 1st Group 1 Lightning Flemington 1000m

Looking back on the last five years of the UBET Classic, all previous winners have run top three in their previous start and all at black-type level.

There are only five horses that have the same credentials heading into Saturday's race and they are Secret Agenda, Viddora, Egyptian Symbol, Missrock and Legless Veuve. Of those five, Egyptian Symbol is first up and no horse has won first up since Bel Mer in 2009.

Three of the last five winners have been third up in their runs and this further strengthens the credentials for Secret Agenda and Viddora.

If English was to win, she would be the first favourite to salute since Black Caviar in 2012. 

With a short half head being the winning margin of the last two editions, it looks like another tight contest is on the cards in Saturday's $1 Million feature! 

Group 1 UBET Classic Market 

$5 - English

$5.50 - Sheidel

$7 - I Am a Star

$7.50 - Super Cash 

$11 - Ravi

$12 - Secret Agenda, Viddora, Egyptian Symbol

Click here to view the market 

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