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 2025.
Notable winners of the Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes include Kimochi (2024), 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 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
SEPALS
(AUS)
4G CALYX (GB) - WHAT'S NEW (NZ) CASINO PRINCE (AUS) |
CRAIG WILLIAMS | 52.0 | CLIFF BROWN | 14 |
|
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) GRUNDY (IRE) |
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

Trainer and jockey quotes following the Group 1 Sportsbet Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes won by Sepals at Caulfield on Saturday.
Racing and Sports highlight our standout plays at Australian TAB meetings for September 20.
A look at who the Racing And Sports team are tipping in this Saturday's features.
Karl Kaldawi is joined by Tom Haylock and our man Trent Crebbin to preview the Underwood and Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes.
A pair of enticing Group One races await us at Caulfield this Saturday.
The best bets for Saturday racing from the team.
Sepals will look to give trainer Cliff Brown his first Group 1 win on Australian soil since his return from Singapore.
Few horses attempt Caulfield Group 1 with 59kg, as Another Wil will do this weekend
Ciaron Maher is expecting Another Wil to bounce back to form in the Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes at Caulfield.
A look into the family tree of the three-time Makybe Diva Stakes hero
The Race History of the Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes run at Caulfield on Saturday changes with another date change.
Harry Angel 4YO to chase first Group 1 win this weekend at Caulfield.
Arkansaw Kid has gone back-to-back in claiming a second Bobbie Lewis Quality at Flemington.
A race down the straight at Flemington could determine the spring path of Royal Insignia.