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Caulfield is host to a double shot of Group 1 racing this weekend including the Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes 2026, and Races.com.au are here with our full preview, tips and best bets for the middle-distance showdown.
A key lead-up to the Toorak Handicap, the Group 1 $1 million Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes (1400m) has been won by many top gallopers over the years and, unlike in Sydney where the Queen Autumn Glow has scared off all but four of her 7 Stakes rivals, we’ve got a capacity line-up in his handicap clash.
Sitting top of the latest Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes odds at Ladbrokes is Chris Waller‘s rails-drawn Lady Shenandoah ($4.80) who has scratched out of a run against her star stablemate in favour of this assignment further south.
Senior hoop Craig Williams comes aboard the talented five-year-old daughter of Snitzel who is out to be the fourth mare in six years to top the Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes results.
Saturday marks her first Caulfield assignment, but her 1400m record is rock solid, and this triple Group 1 winner has the class to return to winning form for the first time since completing the Surround Stakes – Coolmore Classic double as a filly last year.
She has had nine runs since her last turf triumph and, while it’s been a while between drinks, her only run outside the Top 4 in that time was her game The Everest seventh only two lengths off Ka Ying Rising.
Fresh, Lady Shenandoah was terrific at a big price finishing fourth to Autumn Glow in the Group 1 Winx Stakes at Randwick over this distance, which led Kerrin McEvoy to sing her plenty of post first-up praise.
“Really pleased with her,” the hoop said.
“Felt in good shape. Trailed the speed, presented and will improve from the run. In for a lovely prep.”
Despite the size of this year’s Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes field, just three other runners are currently under double figures for the win including the $7 second elect Regal Award for Phillip & Tommy Stokes.
The Ole Kirk gelding makes his four-year-old debut on the weekend and has plenty of upside as a three-time winner from 11 starts to date.
His best win so far came in a Brisbane upset when he beat home Skyhook by a length in the Group 3 Fred Best Classic at Eagle Farm as a 25/1 outsider.
Regal Award then faced an acid test in the Stradbroke and was far from disgraced running a midfield seventh only three lengths off the winner Spicy Martini in a promising effort.
He’s trialled up lovely ahead of his return in Melbourne with back-to-back winning trials and shapes up as a definite danger from a favourable gate four draw for Lachlan Neindorf.
The Waller-trained Angel Capital ($8) and the widely draw Lindsay Park galloper Evaporate ($8.50) round out the single figure fancies.
A dual Group 1 placegetter, Angel Capital ran fourth in last year’s Sir Rupert Clarke and presents fit third-up ready to improve.
He resumed with a Group 2 Missile Stakes third before his Memsie run for 10th behind emphatic winner Beiwacht at this track and trip when found out by the Soft rated track.
With firmer ground this weekend he’s a massive chance to get back on the podium.
Evaporate meanwhile has a nasty gate to overcome but brings winning form into the race with the always honest Per Incanto five-year-old saluting as the odds-on favourite in easier company over 1500m at Sandown second-up off his Group 2 PB Lawrence third to Cosmic Crusader who is favourite in the Underwood Stakes this weekend on the same card.
The other best at Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes odds of $10 meanwhile is the defending Cliff Brown-trained champion Sepals who is out to go back-to-back in the event for the first time since Testa Rossa (1999-2000).
The Calyx gelding loves the Caulfield track having won two from three here to date and is the 1400m specialsit in the mix (6:5-1-0).
He’s drawn ideally and runs for the first time since an excellent second in the Stradbroke but is a horse that usually takes a few to wind up so may need the run.
Other value runners in the mix that loom as good exotics inclusions include Ciaron Maher‘s last start Group 3 Chautauqua Stakes winner Warnie ($10), War Machine ($14) who ran third fresh in the Group 3 The Heath 1100 back up in trip now and Tony & Calvin McEvoy‘s early market mover Yellow Jersey ($16).
The 2026 Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes is set to run as Caulfield Race 9 at 4:50pm (AEST) as the penultimate event on Underwood Stakes Day.
2026 Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes Best Bets
Favourite: No. 6 Lady Shenandoah
| 6. Lady Shenandoah (1) J: Craig Williams 56kg 342×4 T: Chris Waller |
