Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes
Australia | FEATURE RACE GUIDE
History
The Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes is a Group 1 race run under handicap conditions for open class horses at Caulfield conducted by the Melbourne Racing Club.
The Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes is run over 1400m. It was first run in 1951 and was won by Jovial Lad.
The Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes used to be known as the Invitation Stakes but has had numerous name changes until settling on the current name who was former chairman of the Victorian Amateur Turf Club.
It has been at 1400m since inception.
Previously run on Show Day Holiday which was a Thursday, it is now on feature weekends. After being on Underwood Stakes day recently, it has now moved two months later to be run on Thousand Guineas day after the Flemington carnival.
The Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes was a Principal Race until graded at Group 1 in 1979.
St Joel won the race three times but all of them three years apart twice.
Only mares to win since Response in 2010 are Sierra Sue in 2021, Magic Time in 2023 and Kimochi in 2024.
Three year olds had a great run 20 years ago but none since Exceed And Excel.
Santa Ana Lane recorded his initial G1 victory last year and backed it up later in the season in the Goodwood and Stradbroke Handicaps and then won the VRC Sprint Classic the following Spring.
Godolphin's international arm had a plan to bring some quality horses to campaign in Australia in 2018 and G1 Al Quoz Sprint winner Jungle Cat was in that team. He sat wide under a big weight but James Doyle got him home by a nose.
Memsie Stakes/Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes double – Behemoth (2020), Regal Roller (2004), Rancho Ruler (1988).
In the 2024 Spring, Yulong had won races like the Cox Plate, Turnbull Stks, Champions Stks, Maribyrnong Plate, VRC Oaks, Wakeful Stks and now added the Rupert Clarke with Kimochi.
The Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes was worth $1,000,000 in 2024.
Notable winners of the Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes include Magic Time(2023), Callsign Mav (2022), Sierra Sue (2021), Behemoth (2020), Jungle Cat (2018), Santa Ana Lane (2017), Stratum Star (2015), Trust In A Gust (2014), Rebel Dane (2013), Moment Of Change (2012), Rewaaya (2006), Barely A Moment (2005), Exceed And Excel (2003), Testa Rossa (1999/2000), Encosta De Lago (1996), Our Maizcay (1995), Poetic King (1994), Mannerism (1992), St Jude (1991), Canny Lass (1986), Manikato (1978), Cap D'Antibes (1975) and St Joel (1953/1956/1959).
The 2024 Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes was won by Kimochi from Another Wil and Steparty.
Previous Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes Winners
| Date | Horse | Jockey | WT | Trainer | BP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
|
KIMOCHI
(AUS)
4M BRAVE SMASH (JPN) - SUMMER FUN (AUS) I AM INVINCIBLE (AUS) |
CRAIG WILLIAMS | 52.5 | GARY PORTELLI | 13 |
|
|
MAGIC TIME
(AUS)
4M HELLBENT (AUS) - TIME AWAITS (AUS) NICCONI (AUS) |
MICHAEL DEE | 53.5 | GRAHAME BEGG | 13 |
|
|
CALLSIGN MAV
(NZ)
6G ATLANTE (AUS) - RAADISI (NZ) VOLKSRAAD (GB) |
J MOTT | 57.5 | DANNY O'BRIEN | 8 |
|
|
SIERRA SUE
(NZ)
5M DARCI BRAHMA (NZ) - CENTREE (NZ) CENTAINE (AUS) |
DANIEL MOOR | 52.5 | TRENT BUSUTTIN & NATALIE YOUNG | 10 |
|
|
BEHEMOTH
(AUS)
5G ALL TOO HARD (AUS) - PENNY BANGER (AUS) ZEDRICH (AUS) |
CRAIG WILLIAMS | 60.0 | DAVID JOLLY | 5 |
|
|
BEGOOD TOYA MOTHER
(AUS)
5G MYBOYCHARLIE (IRE) - LADY OF HELENA (NZ) KAAPSTAD (NZ) |
DECLAN BATES | 52.0 | DANIEL BOWMAN | 3 |
|
|
JUNGLE CAT
(IRE)
6H IFFRAAJ (GB) - MIKE'S WILDCAT (USA) FOREST WILDCAT (USA) |
JAMES DOYLE | 58.0 | C APPLEBY | 5 |
|
|
SANTA ANA LANE
(AUS)
5G LOPE DE VEGA (IRE) - FAST FLEET (AUS) FASTNET ROCK (AUS) |
D YENDALL | 52.0 | ANTHONY FREEDMAN | 6 |
|
|
BON AURUM
(AUS)
4H BON HOFFA (AUS) - GOLDSMOBILE (AUS) PROMONTORY GOLD (USA) |
K MCEVOY | 52.0 | CIARON MAHER | 5 |
|
|
STRATUM STAR
(AUS)
4H STRATUM (AUS) - PURELY SPECTACULAR (NZ) PINS (AUS) |
CRAIG WILLIAMS | 54.5 | DARREN WEIR | 15 |
|
|
TRUST IN A GUST
(AUS)
4H KEEP THE FAITH (AUS) - SUBTLE BREEZE (USA) STORM CAT (USA) |
DAMIAN LANE | 52.0 | DARREN WEIR | 9 |
|
|
REBEL DANE
(AUS)
4H CALIFORNIA DANE (AUS) - TEXARCANA (AUS) MORE THAN READY (USA) |
G BOSS | 55.5 | GARY PORTELLI | 14 |
|
|
MOMENT OF CHANGE
(AUS)
4G BARELY A MOMENT (AUS) - EUROPIUM (AUS) METAL STORM (FR) |
L NOLEN | 52.5 | PETER G MOODY | 15 |
|
|
TOORAK TOFF
(AUS)
4H SHOW A HEART (AUS) - ORONG (AUS) GRAND LODGE (USA) |
CRAIG WILLIAMS | 56.5 | RICK HORE-LACY | 7 |
|
|
RESPONSE
(AUS)
4M CHARGE FORWARD (AUS) - LIVE IT UP (AUS) MATCH WINNER (FR) |
CRAIG WILLIAMS | 53.5 | MATHEW ELLERTON & SIMON ZAHRA | 5 |
|
|
TURFFONTEIN
(AUS)
5H JOHANNESBURG (USA) - SPIRIT OF GRACE (AUS) DR. GRACE (NZ) |
G BOSS | 55.5 | ANTHONY CUMMINGS | 11 |
|
|
ORANGE COUNTY
(NZ)
6G VOLKSRAAD (GB) - SAFFIE (NZ) KAAPSTAD (NZ) |
DAMIEN OLIVER | 54.0 | BRIAN MAYFIELD-SMITH | 15 |
|
|
BON HOFFA
(AUS)
5H BELONG TO ME (USA) - ASIAN REEF (GB) MANILA (USA) |
V DURIC | 53.0 | WENDY KELLY | 3 |
|
|
REWAAYA
(NZ)
4M SINGSPIEL (IRE) - NASMAH (AUS) AT TALAQ (USA) |
CRAIG WILLIAMS | 51.0 | D A HAYES | 1 |
|
|
BARELY A MOMENT
(AUS)
4H GILDED TIME (USA) - LADY DANNA (AUS) DANEHILL (USA) |
CRAIG WILLIAMS | 52.0 | D A HAYES | 8 |
|
|
REGAL ROLLER
(AUS)
5G REGAL CLASSIC (CAN) - ARANTXA ROSE (AUS) RANCHO RULER (AUS) |
M FLAHERTY | 55.5 | CLINTON MCDONALD | 11 |
|
|
EXCEED AND EXCEL
(AUS)
3C DANEHILL (USA) - PATRONA (USA) LOMOND (USA) |
C W BROWN | 52.5 | T R MARTIN | 5 |
|
|
PERNOD
(NZ)
5M CENTAINE (AUS) - MARTINE MICHELLE (NZ) GROSVENOR (NZ) |
K MCEVOY | 53.5 | MICHAEL MORONEY | 15 |
|
|
MR. MURPHY
(AUS)
4G DANEHILL (USA) - MARSCAY'S DREAM (AUS) MARSCAY (AUS) |
DAMIEN OLIVER | 54.5 | D L FREEDMAN | 13 |
|
|
TESTA ROSSA
(AUS)
4H PERUGINO (USA) - BO DAPPER (AUS) SIR DAPPER (AUS) |
B PREBBLE | 58.5 | DEAN LAWSON | 9 |
Related News
Fresh from a Group 1 win in Melbourne, Gary Portelli has his sights on a NSW feature.
Comeback gelding Mick Kent Jnr’s shot at hometown Cup success.
The beaten jockey comments from two Group One races at Caulfield.
Trainer and jockey quotes after the Group 1 Sportsbet Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes at Caulfield on Saturday won by Kimochi.
Cover the key to Another Wil’s Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes chances.
Join Nick Foot, Tom Haylock, and Reece Goodwin for a huge day at Caulfield culminating in the Group 1 Thousand Guineas and Sir Rupert Clarke.
The Spring Racing Carnival wraps up this weekend with the final Group 1’s to be run and won. The Thousand Guineas will headline the feauture raceday with $1.5m up for grabs for the three year old fillies.
Godolphin gelding up for challenge against Slipper runner-up.
Dual interstate acceptors Private Eye and Chrysaor will both line up at Newcastle.
And just like that, we’ve arrived at the final Group 1 race day of the 2024 Spring Carnival.
Victoria’s leading trainer has three leading hopes in final Group 1 for the season.
Victoria’s feature-race season started with Gentleman Roy winning a 1400-metre race at Caulfield and Ben Hayes remains hopeful it could end the same way.
Coal Crusher will attempt to win his second The Hunter at Newcastle, but a decision is yet to be made on Private Eye.
The Race History of the Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes run at Caulfield on Saturday changes with the date change.
