Thousand Guineas Final Field & Barrier Draw
Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes Tips & Preview 2023
Looking for Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes tips and best bets? We dissect times and form to find the winner of the 2023 Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes at Caulfield.
SIR RUPERT CLARKE STAKES BETTING SNAPSHOT
The final Group 1 race of the Melbourne spring is the Rupert Clarke Stakes and Magic Time has been installed as the $3.70 favourite with Dabble ahead of I Am Me and Strait Acer at $8. The Godolphin galloper, Vilana, is at $11, while Ayrton and Munhamek are both $13.
A capacity field of 16 plus the three emergencies have accepted for the $1 million affair and Chain Of Lightning ($14), Cause For Concern ($15), Skew Wiff ($17) and Wrote To Arataki ($19) are others in contention, while the likes of The Inferno and Crosshaven (both $20) head the rest.
SIR RUPERT CLARKE STAKES FORM ANALYSIS
Formlines are many and varied for the Rupert Clarke with the majority of contenders sticking on after a number of carnival runs, while a small handful head into this relatively fresh.
Magic Time has had the three runs and was a close 3rd behind Espiona in the $2 million Invitation at Randwick on October 28. She was wide without cover but stuck to the task to go eight lengths faster than standard benchmark.
Best last start benchmark figures belong to Cause For Concern, who claimed the Damien Oliver (1400m) at Flemington on Derby Day, going 10.2 lengths faster than standard. The Shawn Mathrick-trained galloper was able to get out of traffic late in the piece to defeat Bandersnatch and Munhamek. Vilana (6th), Ayrton (7th) and Not An Option (12th) also come out of that race.
Bandersnatch was wide throughout and stuck on, while Munhamek was held up. Plenty happened in that race with Vilana posted out four wide without cover, while Ayrton produced the fastest last 400m and 200m after settling last from the wide barrier.
A number of runners are stepping up from the 1200m, including I Am Me and The Inferno, who were runner-up and 4th in the Manikato Stakes (1200m). I Am Me went 9.5 lengths faster than standard when beaten three lengths by Imperatriz. Nothing wrong with that form and the winner went on to score in the Darley Champions Sprint (1200m).
Crosshaven and Chain Of Lightning come out of the Rising Fast Stakes (1200m) finishing runner-up and 7th. Chain Of Lightning was beaten just one length and drops 4.5kg after carrying 58kg that day. She is one from one at the track and trip.
Buffalo River is one of five last start winners in the race and went 8.5 lengths faster than standard when claiming the Moonga Stakes at the track and trip on Caulfield Cup day. Wrote To Arataki produced the same figure when claiming the Moonga Stakes, while Skewiff and General Beau produced slower figures when winning their respective races off a slow early tempo.
Straight Acer is well in the market and was excellent when 4th in the $10 million Golden Eagle. He went just 1.9 lengths faster than standard. His personal best of 8.3 lengths faster than standard came at Randwick when winning at his start prior.
SIR RUPERT CLARKE STAKES TIPS AND BEST BETS
A lot to take into account with this race and we can make a case for a number of runners. Might be worth popping the likes of Bandersnatch, Wrote To Arataki and Cause For Concern into quaddies as well as some of the unlucky brigade from the Damien Oliver at Flemington. But I am settling on I Am Me, while Crosshaven shapes as a value player at the price. I Am Me gets out to the 1400m for the first time but probably has the pick of the form and closed off with the fastest last 200m behind Imperatriz in the Manikato, suggesting she should get the trip. Crosshaven has a sense of timing about him, coming into this second up after placing at Flemington during the carnival. The Team Hayes-trained galloper should enjoy a cosy run from barrier 5 with just 52.5kg on his back and generally improves second up, while he likes the track and trip.
