The quinella out of the Group 1 Memsie Stakes – Behemoth and Beau Rossa – face off again as two of the best in betting at Caulfield Racecourse in the Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes 2021 on Saturday.

Reigning champion Behemoth headlines a class field in Saturday’s 2021 Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes at Caulfield. Ultimate Racing Photos.

A fortnight ago it was David Jolly’s hulking South Australian-trained star Behemoth who narrowly denied the Will Carken-trained four-year-old Beau Rossa victory in the opening Group 1 of the Melbourne Spring Racing Carnival.

Returning to the same track and distance this weekend, the duo are two of the three top fancies in a capacity field gathered for the Group 1 $1 million Neds Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes (1400m).

The markets suggest Beau Rossa, drawn barrier one with Linda Meech to ride, can turn the tables on his last start conqueror carrying 55kg to Behemoth’s 59kg.

The son of Unencumbered is at $4.40 and firming in Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes betting at Ladbrokes.com.au and also ran second to Behemoth two back in Morphettville’s Group 3 Spring Stakes (1200m).

Behemoth, also drawn well in gate three with Craig Williams taking over in the saddle, follows closely at current Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes odds of $5.50 to beat Beau Rossa for the third time on the trot.

Behemoth also defends his Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes title having won the race with a kilo more (60kg) aboard when ridden to victory by Williams in last year’s event.

Success on Saturday will see the gun son of All Too Hard become the first back-to-back Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes champion since Testa Rossa (1999-2000).

In a tight top half of the market, one other runner is sandwiched between Beau Rossa and last year’s hero with Jamie Richards’ outstanding mare Probabeel at $5 to win from gate two.

In-form hoop Brett Prebble, aboard Behemoth for his Memsie Stakes win on August 28, rides the New Zealand-trained daughter of Savabeel in the Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes field.

Probabeel is unbeaten at Caulfield having secured her third win at the track from as many starts when saluting for the punters first-up with 60kg in the Group 3 Cockram Stakes (1200m) on Memsie Stakes Day.

She returns to elite level company here and drops to 57kg, fitter for her last start run and even better suited to the 1400m distance (6:4-1-0) as proven by her Group 1 Futurity Stakes win back in February.

Outside of the dominant trio the other main dangers include the sole emergency I’m Thunderstruck ($8) drawn wide and sweating on a start, the Ciaron Maher & David Eustace-trained perennial placegetter Amish Boy ($13) coming off a second to Masked Crusader in the Group 3 The Heath 1100 also drawn out in double-digits and Group 2 P.B. Lawrence Stakes winning mare Sierra Sue ($13).

The Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes is scheduled to run as Caulfield Race 8 at 4:50pm (AEST) on Saturday with the latest markets from Ladbrokes.com.au available in full here.

2021 Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes Field & Barriers  

Table Credit: Racing Australia.