Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes

Winners and Past Results for the Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes

Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes. The Melbourne Racing Club hosts the prestigious event annually at the Caulfield Racecourse in Melbourne during the spring racing carnival in September.

Horses in this open handicap race cover a distance of 1400 metres in a bid to take home $350,000 in prize money. One can expect to witness a wide pool of classy sprinters and middle distance runners compete on the Caulfield track in the Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes. The other famous Group 1 race, the Underwood Stakes, also takes place on the same day. The race is best suited to the above average sprinter who has the ability to stretch over 7 furlongs. Toorak Toff won in 2011 with Pinnacles and Master Of Design following in quick succession.

The event was run as the Invitation Stakes between 1951 and 1974. Jovial Lad went down in history as the first winner. It remained a Principal Race until 1979 when it achieved Group 1 status. Melbourne Racing Club now hosts the event in honour of its former chairman, Sir Rupert Clarke, who was also the chairman of Cadbury Schwepps and P&O Australia.

Top performers may saddle up for the Group 1 Toorak Handicap, Caulfield Guineas, and Emirates Stakes over the season. Over the years some of the top liners to win the Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes include Mannerism in 1992, Poetic King in 1994, Testa Rossa in 1999 and 2000, Rewaaya in 2006, and Orange County in 2008.

Horses that compete in the Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes ought to be followed closely in other weight for age sprint races and open handicaps during the spring carnival. Many horses are tested over distances between 1200 and 1600 metres over a variety of events in the racing calendar including the Crystal Mile on Cox Plate day at the Moonee Valley track. The Group 3 Bobbie Lewis Quality held earlier at Flemington may have a good field coming into the Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes. Toorak Toff finished fifth in the Bobbie Lewis Quality before winning here. Runner up, Pinnacles, came into the race after a second place in the 1400 M Epilepsy Handicap and later won the Plumbtec Sale Cup Open over 1600 meters at Sale Racecourse in country Victoria. Regal Roller and Barely A Moment won the Sir Rupert Clarke/Toorak Handicap double in 2004 and 2005 respectively. After a sixth spot in the Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes, All American won the Group 1 Emirates Stakes in style.

Among the other races that horses may move on to tackle is the Group 1 Rose Of Kingston Stakes held at the Flemington track and the Group 2 Caulfield Sprint and Group 1 Salinger Stakes as well.

2012 Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes

Moment Of Change made light of a wide barrier draw, being guided by jockey Luke Nolen into a prime spot, one off the rail and trailing early front-runner Mr Make Believe, who bowled along at a good clip. Moment Of Change looked fresh rounding the turn and Nolen threw down the gauntlet to the rest of the field , going to the lead at the top of the straight and waiting for the chasers to come. With just 52 kilos on his back, Moment Of Change was able to see off any potential challenge, eventually winning by nearly two lengths from We're Gonna Rock with another sizeable gap to Solzhenitsyn in third.

2012 Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes result

1. Moment Of Change
2. We're Gonna Rock
3. Solzhenitsyn

Then came:

4. Glass Harmonium
5. Smokin' Joey
6. Instinction
7. Pinwheel
8. Strike The Stars
9. That's The One
10. Bombalatomba
11. Mr Make Believe
12. Second Effort
13. Centennial Park
14. Mister Milton
15. Shanghai Warrior