Distance | 1,400m |
Grade | Group 1 |
Track | Caulfield |
Prizemoney | $500,000 |
2018 winner |
Jungle Cat ($13.00) |
The Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes is the second Group One of the Victorian Spring Racing Season.
Run over 1400m, the race has produced a number of notable winners including Santa Ana Lane (2017), Exceed and Excel (2003) and Testa Rossa (2000, 1999).
The favourite for this year's event is the Daniel Bowman trained Begood Toya Mother.
This lightly raced galloper impressed in the Listed Regal Roller over the 1200m at Caulfield. Before that he struggled under weight-for-age conditions in the Group One Memsie Stakes to finish 2.85 lengths behind Scales of Justice.
He drops 7kg from that run, which sees him far better suited this time around. With plenty of speedy types nominated however, you wouldn't expect this to be a walk in the park for the gelding.
Best Bet: Best of Days $11 - The winner of the Group One Kennedy Mile at his first Australian prep, this Godolphin owned galloper is once again chasing Group One glory.
His first two runs this preparation have been solid, running within three lengths in both the Group One Winx Stakes and the Group Two Feehan Stakes.
At his last Spring campaign, he showed significant improvement from run to run and punters should expect to see further improvement now third-up here.
He's a versatile galloper who can sit off the expected hot-speed and fly late. The $11 looks great value and is worth an early play.
Nominations for the 2019 Sir Rupert Clarke are below:
Horse Name | Weights | Trainer | Odds |
BEGOOD TOYA MOTHER | 52 | Daniel Bowman | $ 3.50 |
AMPHITRITE | 54 | David & B Hayes & T Dabernig | $ 8.00 |
DEPRIVE | 54.5 | James Cummings | $ 8.00 |
AGE OF CHIVALRY (NZ) | 52 | Mathew Ellerton & Simon Zahra | $ 8.00 |
SO SI BON | 57 | David & B Hayes & T Dabernig | $ 9.00 |
BEST OF DAYS (GB) | 58 | James Cummings | $ 11.00 |
MADISON COUNTY (NZ) | 57 | Murray Baker & Andrew Forsman | $ 11.00 |
SPIRIT OF VALOR (USA) | 56.5 | Ciaron Maher & David Eustace | $ 11.00 |
WIDGEE TURF | 56 | Patrick Payne | $ 13.00 |
CLIFF’S EDGE | 56.5 | Ciaron Maher & David Eustace | $ 15.00 |
ICONOCLASM | 53 | Danny O'Brien | $ 15.00 |
MALAGUERRA | 57.5 | Lindsey Smith | $ 17.00 |
DESPATCH | 57 | Tony & Calvin McEvoy | $ 17.00 |
BLACK HEART BART | 58 | Lindsey Smith | $ 51.00 |
STREETS OF AVALON | 54.5 | Shane Nichols | $ 51.00 |
FASTNET TEMPEST (IRE) | 54.5 | David & B Hayes & T Dabernig | $ 67.00 |
VASSILATOR (NZ) | 52 | Colin Little | $ 67.00 |
INN KEEPER | 52 | Symon Wilde | $ 67.00 |