Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes

The $1 million Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes is a Group 1 handicap now held at Caulfield in November over the spring carnival.

2023 Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes Results

  • 1st: #11 Magic Time
  • 2nd: #2 I Am Me
  • 3rd: #3 Strait Acer



The Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes is a Group 1 feature held at Caulfield Racecourse which has been moved to a late November timeslot at the tail-end of the Melbourne Spring Racing Carnival as of 2023.

The race has changed dates a number of times and has recently been held in September before being moved ahead of the 2023 edition.

The new-look Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes Day card also now features the Group 1 Thousand Guineas (1600m) for three-year-old fillies.

Other key support acts on the card include the Group 3 Blue Sapphire Stakes (1400m), Group 3 Thoroughbred Club Stakes (1200m), and the Group 3 How Now Stakes (1200m).

The Sir Rupert Clarke was previously a good lead-up to the Group 1 Toorak Handicap (1600m), and from 2012 – 2016 all four Toorak Handicap winners had their final lead-up in the Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes including Trust In A Gust (2014) who did the double.

The Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes is a 1400m sprint offering $1,000,000 in prize money and is run under quality handicap conditions.

The 2021 Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes form was franked with the third place-getter I’m Thunderstruck going on to win the Toorak Handicap and Sydney’s The Golden Eagle (1500m) at his next two starts.

In 2022, before the Sir Rupert was moved, the third-placed Tuvalu franked the form improving to win the Toorak Handicap next start before a second in that year’s Group 1 Champions Mile (1600m) at Flemington over the Melbourne Cup Carnival.

For the first time in 2023 the Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes winner also earned a guaranteed start in the following autumn’s $4 million The All-Star Mile race held in 2024 on March 16 at Caulfield Racecourse.

It was the first ‘Win and You’re In’ race for the 2024 All-Star Mile.

The 2023 Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes ran on Saturday November 18, 2023 having been moved to a November time-slot after Victoria’s famous Melbourne Cup Carnival and was won by the Grahame Begg-trained favourite Magic time ($4.80F). 

Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes
Date: Saturday November 18, 2023
Track: Caulfield Racecourse
Distance: 1400m
Race Type: Open Handicap
Status: Group 1
Prize Money: $1,000,000

2023 Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes Results

  • 1st: #11 Magic Time ($4.80F)
  • 2nd: #2 I Am Me
  • 3rd: #3 Strait Acer

Grahame Begg’s in-form Hellbent mare Magic Time ($4.80F) improved on a lead-up third in The Invitation race to overcome a wide gate to post a one-length Group 1 success when saluting for the punters in the 2023 Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes results.

Finish No. Horse Trainer Jockey Margin Bar. Weight Penalty Starting Price
1 11 MAGIC TIME Grahame Begg Michael Dee 13 53.5kg $4.80F
2 2 I AM ME Ciaron Maher & David Eustace Blake Shinn 1L 9 56kg $6.50
3 3 STRAIT ACER Edward Cummings Mark Zahra 1.3L 4 55.5kg $12
4 4 BANDERSNATCH Michael, Wayne & John Hawkes Jordan Childs 1.4L 3 55kg $19
5 5 SKEW WIFF (NZ) Mark Walker Craig Williams 1.6L 11 55kg $26
6 7 AYRTON (NZ) Mick Price & Michael Kent (Jnr) Daniel Moor 3.35L 6 54.5kg $17
7 16 WROTE TO ARATAKI (NZ) Matthew Williams Dean Yendall 3.45L 12 52.5kg $21
8 1 VILANA James Cummings Damien Oliver 3.65L 1 57kg $10
9 13 CAUSE FOR CONCERN Shawn Mathrick Ms Jamie Kah 4.15L 8 53kg $16
10 12 MUNHAMEK (GB) Nick Ryan Luke Currie 4.9L 15 53.5kg $20
11 6 THE INFERNO Cliff Brown Jake Noonan 6.65L 7 55kg $26
12 14 GENERAL BEAU Mathew Ellerton Ms Linda Meech 6.85L 14 53kg $21
13 15 CROSSHAVEN Ben, Will & JD Hayes Daniel Stackhouse 7.25L 5 52.5kg $11
14 8 ZOUTORI Mathew Ellerton Beau Mertens 10.5L 2 54.5kg $101
15 9 BUFFALO RIVER (USA) Michael Moroney Ms Celine Gaudray (a) 12.75L 16 53.5kg $19
16 10 CHAIN OF LIGHTNING Peter G Moody & Katherine Coleman Billy Egan 27.75L 10 53.5kg $11
19e UMGAWA Leon & Troy Corstens Liam Riordan 0
18e MILITARY EXPERT Annabel Neasham Ms Winona Costin 0
17e NOT AN OPTION Michael Moroney Craig Newitt 0

Table Credit: Racing Australia. 

2023 Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes Betting

The season’s updated Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes 2023 odds and betting market links to Ladbrokes.com.au will be provided below the week of the race.

Behemoth ($3.80 in 2020) and Magic Time ($4.80 in 2023) are the latest favourites in Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes betting to salute.

There was a notable upset in 2022 with Callsign Mav winning his fourth Group 1 and first on Aussie soil at $15 Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes odds.

CLICK HERE FOR THE LATEST ALL-IN 2023 SIR RUPERT CLARKE STAKES ODDS (Pre-Nominations)

2023 Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes Form

CLICK HERE FOR THE FULL 2023 SIR RUPERT CLARKE STAKES FORM GUIDE

2023 Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes Tips

Stay tuned for our insider Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes 2023 Tips on the late-spring Group 1 this season.

2023 Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes Field

The Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes field attracts a quality line-up of middle-distance gallopers each spring that may have had a lead-up run in a race like the Group 1 Memsie Stakes (1400m) at the same track / distance earlier in the season, or the Group 2 Bobbie Lewis Quality (1200m) run down the Flemington straight the week prior.

Bon Hoffa (2007) was the last horse to complete the Bobbie Lewis – Sir Rupert double when the former only held Group 3 status, while Behemoth (2020) became the first Memsie Stakes – Sir Rupert Clarke double winner since 2004.

In 2022 Callsign Mav improved on a lead-up sixth behind The Everest contender Snapdancer in the Memsie Stakes results to win the Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes.

The official 2023 Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes field of final acceptances is released by Racing Victoria on the Wednesday of race week and will be provided in full below.

2023 Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes Nominations

Nominations for the Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes close the Monday of race week and will be published below once announced.

Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes History

The first recorded win of the Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes was in 1951 by Jovial Lad. The event has since then been won two consecutive times by several horses starting with Anonyme in 1961-62. Tauto then won in 1970-71 and Testa Rossa placed first in 1999 and 2000. Formerly known as the Invitation Stakes, the Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes has held Group 1 status since 1979 and for a number of years took place on the same Sunday Sydney hosts the NRL Grand Final.

The Sir Rupert Clarke recently moved forward a week earlier as the feature event on its own race card. It has been won by many quality types over the years including the 2018 Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes winner Jungle Cat, a raider from the UK who came off a Group 1 Al Quoz Sprint win in Dubai.

In 2023 the Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes was moved from September to November.

Recent Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes Winners

Year Winner Second Third Time
2023 Magic Time I Am Me Strait Acer 1:22.51
2022 Callsign Mav I Am Superman Tuvalu 1:26.88
2021 Sierra Sue Dice Roll I’m Thunderstruck 1:23.07
2020 Behemoth Dollar For Dollar Pretty Brazen 1:23.84
2019 Begood Toya Mother Age Of Chivalry Widgee Turf 1:21.98
2018 Jungle Cat Dollar For Dollar Land Of Plenty 1:22.31
2017 Santa Ana Lane Mr Sneaky So Si Bon 1:22.28
2016 Bon Aurum Voodoo Lad Fast ‘n’ Rocking 1:23.4
2015 Stratum Star Disposition Under The Louvre 1:22.0
2014 Trust In A Gust Dissident Bull Point 1:23.0
2013 Rebel Dane Fontelina Solzhenitsyn 1:23.9
2012 Moment Of Change We’re Gonna Rock Solzhenitsyn 1:22.1
2011 Toorak Toff Pinnacles Master Of Design 1:21.9
2010 Response No Evidence Needed Woorim 1:22.23
2009 Turffontein Stickpin Raffaello 1:25.3
2008 Orange County Bon Hoffa Turffontein 1:24.3
2007 Bon Hoffa Niconero Wonderful World 1:22.5
2006 Rewaaya Miss Andretti Undue 1:23.4
2005 Barely A Moment Super Kid Sky Cuddle 1:25.7
2004 Regal Roller Our Egyptian Raine Alinghi 1:24.2
2003 Exceed & Excel Reactive Titanic Jack 1:21.2
2002 Pernod Bel Espirit Royal Code 1:22.6
2001 Mr Murphy Fubu Umrum 1:23.5
2000 Testa Rossa Camarena Porto Roca 1:21.9
1999 Testa Rossa Nina Haraka Redoutes Choice 1:22.1
1998 Lord Luskin Theatre Haltermann 1:23.3
1997 Cut Up Rough Tarnpir Lane Delsole 1:22.9
1996 Encosta De Lago Scenic Royale Lochrae 1:24.2
1995 Our Maizcay Cut Up Rough You Remember 1:22.3
1994 Poetic King Lets Cut Loose Subastral 1:23.2
1993 Black Rouge Lets Hurry Primacy 1:23.3
1992 Mannerism Black Rouge Vows 1:26.2
1991 St Jude Our Dawn Star Cole Diesel 1:27.4
1990 Submariner Plush Embassy Crimson Medal 1:23.6

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