Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes

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.     All-in market Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes 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

Distance 1400m Grade Group One Track Rating Good 4 Prizemoney $500,000 Class Open Handicap 2017 winner Santa Ana Lane ($26) This year's edition of the Sir Rupert Clarke stakes has attracted a broad variety of runners, all looking to beat the handicapper. It appears the conditions have scared off a number of the higher profile brigade, who would have been asked to carry too much. This leaves us with Jungle Cat at the top of the weights and a mix of quality younger mares and geldings to do battle. It is likely that by this stage of the day (even with the rail out 9m), the predicted bias will revert, and run-on profiles will have their chance.     Caulfield Race Track Traits Caulfield is currently rated a Good 4, with the rail out 9m the entire circuit and fine conditions predicted. With the rail out significantly, we can immediately default to on-speed holding the advantage early. However, this does tend to revert for races late in the day, as riders become too keen to race on-speed. When this occurs, warp speed tempos are created which favours run-on types.    Market Movers Favourite Home Of The Brave has firmed in early betting to $4.20 from $4.80, whilst Mr Sneaky is friendless after showing $13, he is out to $15.    Key Runners #1 Jungle Cat $10 Interesting runner who arrives following a picket fence last prep in Dubai with his latest at Group 1 level. No doubt that form should stack up well for this, although he does give away plenty of weight to our local Group performed stars. Very difficult to line-up, however the stable usually know what to bring down here and if there was a push late in betting, it would pay to take note. Warrants a very close market watch. Can win.    #2 Home Of The Brave $4.80 > $4.20   Could not have been more impressive at his last two, where in the latest he led and gave nothing else a chance in the Theo Marks. That was at Group 2 level and although the race did feature plenty of quality, stepping up here to Group 1 level for the first time this prep will test. He will lead, and provided the pressure does not come too early, should be in this for a long way. The final 100m will be his acid test, however he looks right up to it. Top hope.    #3 Showtime $14    Raced well here second-up when he won the PB Lawrence over this distance (1400m). He disappointed when returning to the scene of the crime however, failing dismally in the Memsie stakes to run last (11 of 11). I'm not convinced he is an absolute top-line Group horse, and he will need to be to figure in this. Expect a significant market drift in betting and for punters to despise late. No.    #4 Osborne Bulls $6 Love his profile, where more often than not he gets back near last and storms home over the top. The stable has had a huge opinion of him all the way through, and he was once touted as a serious Stradbroke contender before a setback. Brilliant winning here first-up in the Regal Roller over 1200m and he will simply eat up the extra distance of the 1400m journey.  Slight concern he gets buried back along the inside, however with any luck will be in the finish. Leading chance.    #8 Land Of Plenty $8 Has been heavily backed throughout early betting and this is a strong lead from a stable that do like a bet. Recent form is excellent coming off the back of an impressive Moonee Valley win, where he had to come wide and from well back to run home over the top. That win was huge, and although this is far more difficult, a repeat would see him go close. The big stable money seen before the market went "All In"  is key and must be respected. As always Weir and Damian Lane combining in a big Group 1 adds plenty of confidence and he must go on top.   #15 Peaceful State $10     Went very close at Moonee Valley last start when he wasn't given a strong hope in betting, before storming late to run second (just missed). Looks to have come back in excellent order and is another where the extra distance suits. Slight concern where he gets to in the run from a sticky draw in gate 14, however he definitely has the class to overcome. He appears to be flying under the radar this time in and it would not surprise to see him start shorter in betting. Include in everything.    Of The Others All reports are that Oregon's Day was the trackwork star this week and she showed her ability in top grade over the Brisbane Winter carnival. Has now had the two runs back and will be ready to fire third-up. Could surprise a few here at odds.    Best Racing Tips 1st  Land Of Plenty 2nd  Home Of The Brave 3rd  Peaceful State 4th Oregon's Day Punters can access more selections for Saturday's racing in our Caulfield Tips Market. It's a page dedicated to racing media experts and punters who have tips posted at Caulfield racecourse.