The Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes 2016 steals the show at Caulfield on Saturday, insider betting tips and the updated odds for the handicap classic found below.
Bon Aurum is the Races.com.au tip to win the 2016 Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes at Caulfield Racecourse on the weekend. Photo: Ultimate Racing Photos.
Due to jump at 4:15pm (AEST) as Race 7, the $500,000 Group 1 Yulong Park Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes (1400m) features a gun line-up of gallopers with markets at Ladbrokes.com.au led by the Chris Waller-trained Counterattack ($3.50).
Money is coming for the four-year-old from Sydney who races in Melbourne for just the second time.
His sole Victorian start was during last year’s Melbourne Cup Carnival at Flemington for the brave third behind stablemate Japonisme in the Group 1 Coolmore Stud Stakes (1200m).
Japonisme also denied Redoute’s Choice stallion Counterattack a lucrative win in the $600,000 Group 2 Arrowfield 3YO Stakes (1200m) this April when only a whisker separated the duo at Randwick during ‘The Championships’.
Counterattack is second-up this campaign and was narrowly beaten first-up when a neck off another Waller-trained winner Mackintosh in Rosehill’s Group 2 Theo Marks Stakes (1300m).
The favourite won’t face any stablemates this weekend but there’s plenty of depth in the Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes field and markets.
The bookies have his biggest threats positioned as the Darren Weir-trained Voodoo Lad ($5) who rises notably in class, Ciaron Maher’s last start Flemington winner Bon Aurum ($6.50) well down in the weights and the to-be-scratched Stradbroke Handicap winner Under The Louvre ($7.50).
So can Counterattack break his Group 1 maiden or is there an upset Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes result pending this weekend to cash in on at Ladbrokes.com.au?
Earlier in the week we published an exclusive 2016 Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes Form Guide & Betting Preview, and based on the facts in that we’ve come up with the need-to-know Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes betting tips.
1st
#11 Bon Aurum ($6.50)
The big weight relieve for this locally-trained four-year-old is a big plus. The son of Bon Hoffa is third-up and coming off progressive form, including the two length win carrying 54kg to victory in Black-Type company over this distance at Flemington on September 10. Down on the 52kg minimum for his third elite level test. His first two produced unplaced runs, but he’s down in kilos and in an even field is a livewire chance at his pet distance (5-3-0-1). Is also the right age as four-year-olds have won the past six editions of the race.
2nd
#2 Xtravagant ($11)
The heavier kilos (56.5kg) rule this Kiwi out for the win, as only one winner has claimed the race in the past 16 years with more than 55.5kg on their back. He was dead last first-up in the Bobbie Lewis, but can atone and return to his Group 1 winning form from back in New Zealand. We forgive him his last start and he has the best Win Rate of the field (55%), plus is undefeated over the distance (4-4-0-0).
3rd
#9 Tivaci ($10)
Value bet at double-figures is this Michael Moroney-trained High Chaparral four-year-old, another in-form stallion stepping up in class. He won the Sunshine Coast Guineas over a mile in the winter with his only run since the good second in the Bobbie Lewis Quality – a race that has produced four of the past eight Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes winners. Right age, right lead-up form, good gate (3) and light weight (52kg) so ticking plenty of boxes.
Back our insider 2016 Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes betting tips online now at Ladbrokes.com.au – home of Odds Boost (T&Cs apply).
