Horse Racing

A bumper 27 nominations make up the early entries for the Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes 2015, one of two Group 1 races running at Caulfield Racecourse in the latest Melbourne Spring Racing Carnival meeting this weekend.

Amicus is one of three Chris Waller-trained nominations for the 2015 Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes in Melbourne this weekend. Photo: Steve Hart.

Underwood Stakes Day lights up the track on Saturday with one of the headline events being the $400,000 Group 2 Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes (1400m) run under handicap conditions.

The race has attracted a number of talented gallopers at nomination stage including a smart trio from Sydney’s best stable prepared by Chris Waller.

Waller is yet to train a Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes winner but could have up to three runners in the feature on Saturday including in-form Fastnet Rock mare Amicus, the four-year-old coming off back-to-back wins.

The first was in the Group 3 Toy Show Quality (1300m) at Randwick before she travelled to Melbourne and handled the opposite way of going at Flemington on September 12 to take out the Group 2 Let’s Elope Stakes (1400m).

Waller’s other two chances are both also nominated for Sydney races at Rosehill on Saturday with last start Group 3 Sheraco Stakes winning mare Catkins and his smart seven-year-old Strawberry Boy who was beaten only half a length by stablemate Winx first-up in the Group 2 Theo Marks Stakes (1300m).

Last year’s Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes winner was the Darren Weir-trained Trust In A Gust (2014) who went on to also win the Group 1 Toorak Handicap (1600m) next start.

This year Weir has two chances to go back-to-back in the Sir Rupert nominating for Lucky Hussler and Stratum Star.

Husson six-year-old Lucky Hussler was fourth in the Group 2 Bobbie Lewis (1200m) down the Flemington straight a fortnight ago and was last in the winner’s stall back in late March at Moonee Valley saluting in the Group 1 William Reid Stakes (1200m).

Stratum Star will be third-up if accepted this weekend, the progressive four-year-old stallion coming off a brave run at the track and distance at elite level when only a neck off the winner Boban crossing third in the Group 1 Memsie Stakes (1400m) from August 29.

Along with Waller’s two last start winners other Sir Rupert Clarke nominees this season who come off a victory include Peter Moody’s former New Zealand-trained mare Abidewithme, WA Group 1 placed Reset four-year-old Disposition coming off a Flemington black-type win for his new trainers Lee & Anthony Freedman and Charmed Harmony.

John Sadler’s local Hussonet gelding Charmed Harmony has a good record of two wins and a second from five previous runs at this track and distance and comes off four consecutive Melbourne victories.

Two of those were at Flemington and two at his home Caulfield track including a one and a half-length effort over 1400m from Memsie Stakes Day.

Other notable Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes entries this season include David Hayes & Tom Dabernig’s Group 1 runner-up Gregers who ran third in the Bobbie Lewis last start, four-year-old grey Moonovermanhattan, the Mick Price-trained Sebring stallion Pressing and Robert Smerdon’s Bobbie Lewis runner-up Under The Louvre who ran third in the Group 1 The Goodwood (1200m) in South Australia back in May.

Stay tuned to Races.com.au for the official Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes 2015 field, barriers and weights to be released later in the week.

In the meantime treat yourself with up to $700 in bonus bets on the house by opening an account online at Ladbrokes.com.au and quoting the exclusive bonus code SPRINGBONUS!

2015 Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes Nominations

Caulfield Racecourse – 26/09/2015