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A bumper field of middle-distance spring hopefuls faces off in the key Underwood Stakes Day support act at Caulfield on Saturday, and the Races.com.au team has the inside word on the 2025 Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes tips and best bets to take on the Toorak lead-up!
Chris Waller’s emphatic last start Listed Chautauqua Stakes winner Angel Capital has firmed into clear $3.70 favouritism at Ladbrokes.com.au to become a Group 1 winner at his ninth start after a huge return as a four-year-old.
So, will Angel Capital get the job done for the punters at a track and trip he already boasts two wins over?
Can the danger Sepals overcome a wide alley and prove his elite level class after his own easy win fresh in easier grade?
Or will Ciaron Maher’s more seasoned champ Another Wil bounce back from a flat first-up performance and return to his best?
All will be revealed when the Sir Rupert runs as Caulfield Race 8 at 4:20pm (AEST) on Saturday.
Between now and then, check out our Same Race Multi selections on the handicap clash below.
2025 Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes Same Race Multi Selections ($14.50 at time of publish)
- Top 3 – No. 9 Angel Capital
- Top 3 – No. 16 Sepals
- Top 4 – No. 10 Damask Rose
ANGEL CAPITAL (9) is a very promising four-year-old from the Waller team chasing a third straight win, having already proven himself over this track and trip with a strong victory in the Group 2 Autumn Stakes back in February.
He returned in style to launch his spring campaign, delivering a dominant 3.75-length win in the Listed Chautauqua Stakes (1200m) at The Valley — a performance that stamped him as one to watch.
With two wins from three starts at Caulfield, Angel Capital looks primed to improve second-up and should appreciate the rise to 1400m at this stage of his preparation. Waller, notably, is still chasing his first win in this event.
He drops to a favourable 53.5kg after carrying 56kg last start, though he’ll need to overcome a wide draw in barrier 13. Damian Lane retains the ride, which is a plus.
Progressive type with upside — a genuine contender if he gets the right run.
SEPALS (16) is saddled up by Mornington trainer Cliff Brown and faces a wide draw in barrier 16 — potentially coming into gate 15 if the sole emergency, Zou Sensation, doesn’t gain a start.
The lightly raced Calyx gelding made a statement first-up as a four-year-old, blitzing his rivals by 4.25 lengths over 1400m at Caulfield on August 30 in a Benchmark 100 — a powerful return that turned heads.
As a three-year-old, Sepals showed his class with a dominant win in the Group 3 CS Hayes Stakes and backed it up with a strong fourth in the Group 1 Australian Guineas behind Feroce, confirming his ability to match it with top-tier company.
While barrier 15 hasn’t produced a winner since Stratum Star in 2015, Sepals gets in light at just 52kg — a key advantage — and will be partnered by Craig Williams, who boasts an outstanding record in this race with seven wins over the past two decades.
Lightly weighted, proven at the track, and guided by a master jockey — Sepals is a genuine threat despite the draw.
DAMASK ROSE (17) adds lovely value to our SRM on the Sir Rupert with this talented Kiwi expat having her second start down under.
Mark Walker’s four-year-old daughter of Savabeel is a $2 million earner and she’s won four of her eight starts to date including most notably getting a dream run in the inaugural $3.5 million The Kiwi slot race at Ellerslie in March to defeat Evaporate by 1.5 lengths
That came on the back of her Karaka Millions 3YO win so she’s got ability.
First-up in Australia she didn’t run in the money when fifth in the Group 3 Cockram Stakes (1200m) here on August 30, but she was only 1.5 lengths off Magic Time and caught the eye.
She’ll only improve.
Up in grade but will relish the extra distance being proven up to a mile and also comes right back in weight from 57kg to 52kg with Michael Dee in the saddle.
Yes, she’s got a nasty gate to overcome, but I think she’ll be able to finish strongly and get into the Top 4.
Happy punting!
| 16. Sepals (14) J: Craig Williams52kg 114x1T: Cliff Brown | ||
| 15. Miss Roumbini (13) J: Beau Mertens52kg 311x2T: Mick Price & Michael Kent Jnr | ||
| 6. Feroce (10) J: Billy Egan56kg 316x6T: Dominic Sutton | ||
| 9. Angel Capital (12) J: Damian Lane53.5kg 6x1x1T: Chris Waller | ||
| 3. Pinstriped (5) J: Jamie Mott56.5kg 97x79T: Enver Jusufovic | ||
| 17. Zou Sensation (4) J: Luke Currie52kg 51114T: L & T Corstens & W Larkin | ||
| 10. Damask Rose (15) J: Michael Dee52kg 611x5T: Mark Walker | ||
| 13. Jennilala (2) J: Harry Coffey52kg 1607xT: Gavin Bedggood | ||
| 2. Here To Shock (6) J: Daniel Stackhouse58kg 12x37T: Ben, Will & Jd Hayes | ||
| 5. Arkansaw Kid (1) J: Blake Shinn56kg 6x221T: Ben, Will & Jd Hayes | ||
| 8. Port Lockroy (3) J: Jye McNeil54.5kg 897x0T: Annabel & Rob Archibald | ||
| 12. Is It Me (8) J: Patrick Moloney52kg 11x48T: Daniel Bowman | ||
| 1. Another Wil (7) J: Jamie Melham59kg 146x6T: Ciaron Maher | ||
| 7. Zarastro (11) J: Angela Jones56kg x52x4T: Tony Gollan |
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