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The Group 1 $1 million Toorak Handicap (1600m) on October 11 could be on the cards for new co-favourite Sepals after Cliff Brown‘s progressive four-year-old broke his elite level maiden status with an outstanding win in Saturday’s 2025 Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes results at Caulfield.
Now a winner of five of his seven starts, smart Calyx gelding Sepals was too strong for his rivals in this year’s Group 1 $1 million Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes (1400m) second-up putting three-quarters of a length on the surprise runner-up Miss Roumbini with Feroce third.
“Very happy. I’m really pleased for everyone. Jo and the kids and the staff, they’re amazing,” Brown told Racing Victoria after the big win.
“There’s a lot of work that goes into them. He’s a special horse and he deserves the attention that he gets.”
Winner of the Group 3 CS Hayes Stakes at HQ last prep, the up-and-comer was having his second shot in Group 1 grade after a game fourth in the Australian Guineas in the autumn.
He came off a confidence-boosting win fresh at Caulfield when saluting by over four lengths in a BM100 before showing his class when back up in grade for the Sir Rupert.
Jockey Craig Williams made it a Group 1 double on the day having earlier delivered for the punters in the Underwood Stakes on now Melbourne Cup favourite Sir Delius.
Williams celebrated his eighth Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes win with another well-timed ride on Sepals ($3.50) who showed great tenacity when hitting the front to hold off the fast-finishing Miss Roumbini.
“It was quite interesting,” Brown said of how the race panned out.
“He (Williams) came out and said ‘I will just let him find his feet’.
“That went out the window, but that’s what he does, and that’s why you put the best on. He’s done a great job.”
Drawn wide out in gate 14, Sepals impressed Williams with the way he got across from the gate to settle second in the run before responding well on the home straight.
“I had the right horse presented by the horse’s trainer, Cliff Brown and all his staff,” he said.
“From an outside barrier this horse made effortless work of it, and I could do what I wanted on him because he was very well-prepared and he’s a bloody good horse too.
“It’s hard to win Group 1s and he’s done it and that’s not it for this horse; he’s got more to come.
“He’s just got such a good action, he’s got a great motor, and I was very fortunate to ride him today.”
The 2025 Toorak Handicap runs back at the track over a mile on Caulfield Guineas Day, October 11, and Brown said that could be a potential next-up target for his untapped galloper.
“It could be, but I’ll see what the boys want to do,” he said.
“It’s very special.”
Trust In A Gust (2014) was the last horse to complete the Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes – Toorak Handicap double over a decade ago.
Futures Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes betting at Ladbrokes.com.au on Sepals to be the next have firmed in from $15 to $4.
He is now equal favourite with the Chris Waller trained Angel Capital who ran fourth as the beaten favourite in the Sir Rupert.
The Sir Rupert wasn’t without drama however with the Ciaron Maher trained Chorlton Lane who broke down on the home straight and sadly had to be euthanised.
“It’s awful what happened to the other horse,” Brown acknowledged.
“For those kids and that stable it will be a hard night, and my thoughts are with them.”
| 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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