Danny O’Brien’s consistent and lightly raced veteran Showmanship is one of the key fancies in the 2022 Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes field in Melbourne this weekend.

Showmanship is one of the in-form gallopers in the 2022 Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes field this weekend at Caulfield. Photo: Steve Hart.

The Melbourne Spring Racing Carnival action continues at Caulfield on Saturday with the action headlined by a capacity field facing off in the Group 1 $1 million Neds Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes (1400m).

It is an open edition of the handicap clash, and Showmanship is the shortest-priced of the confirmed starters at $6.

An early market mover having been backed in from $7, the Showcasing gelding presents fit third-up.

Showmanship was good two back in the Wangoom Handicap finishing a close third, and he improved on August 20 taking out the Group 3 Show County Quality (1200m) here.

Damien Oliver comes aboard for the ride on the galloper who must carry two kilos extra in his Group 1 bid on Saturday.

Current Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes odds at Ladbrokes.com.au have Peter Moody’s second emergency, I Wish I Win, as the firm $3.10 favourite.

However, the in-form Savabeel four-year-old is far from guaranteed a start in the Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes field.

The bookies are taking no chances with the Kiwi import, and I Wish I Win remains the top elect following a four -length win at the track and distance from August 27.

Equal with Showmanship at $6 in the Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes odds this season is the resuming Lindsey Smith-trained Tuvalu.

The Kermadec five-year-old has won seven of his 11 career starts, has an outstanding 1400m record (4:3-1-0) and is yet to finish out of the top two.

He chases a hat-trick of victories on Saturday following back-to-back Flemington wins over the mile this winter, and his last start produced an impressive two length Listed Winter Championship (1600m) success on July 2.

Following closely in the markets at a quote of $6.50 is another first-up runner with Ayrton kicking off his spring bid.

The Mick Price & Michael Kent Jnr-trained five-year-old is six from 10 to date, unbeaten with a flawless four-from-four Caulfield record and is also undefeated first-up (4:4-0-0).

With a 50% winning strike rate from six starts at the 1400m, Ayrton looks an imposing chance fresh in the Sir Rupert racing for the first time since his seventh in the Group 1 Stradbroke Handicap (1400m) on June 11.

Rounding out the single-figure fancies at $8 is the first emergency, the Lance O’Sullivan & Andrew Scott-trained Dragon Leap.

Michael Dee partners the progressive Pierro six-year-old who remains lightly-raced having just his 12^th start on the weekend.

Dragon Leap is prepared in New Zealand, and the Kiwi visitor had his first run down under on August 27 when fourth to Snapdancer in the Group 1 Memsie Stakes (1400m) here at weight-for-age.

The 2022 Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes is set to run as Caulfield Race 7 at 4:15pm (AEST).

Click here for the latest Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes betting odds courtesy of Ladbrokes.com.au.

2022 Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes Final Field & Barrier Draw

Table Credit: Racing Australia.