Result: Angel Capital won the 2026 Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes for Chris Waller and Ben Melham, from Sepals and Regal Award.
The Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes is a $1 million Group 1 handicap over 1400m at Caulfield Racecourse in Melbourne. The 2026 edition was run on Saturday 19 September 2026, on the same card as the Underwood Stakes, and it's the key lead-up to the Group 1 Toorak Handicap three weeks later.
Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes 2026: race details
Date: Saturday 19 September 2026
Track: Caulfield Racecourse, Melbourne (left-handed turf)
Distance: 1400m
Grade: Group 1
Conditions: Open handicap, 3YOs and upwards
Prizemoney: $1,000,000
Race time: Race 9, 4:50pm AEST
2025 winner: Sepals
Field: 16 runners plus 2 emergencies
Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes 2026 final field and barriers
Lady Shenandoah drew barrier 1 with Craig Williams, who was chasing a ninth win in the race. Defending champion Sepals was in barrier 5, while topweight Tom Kitten and War Machine drew wide in 14 and 18.
1. Tom Kitten — Anthony & Sam Freedman · Mark Zahra · barrier 14 · 59kg
2. Evaporate (NZ) — Ben, Will & JD Hayes · Blake Shinn · barrier 17 · 56.5kg
3. Sepals — Cliff Brown · Ethan Brown · barrier 5 · 56.5kg
4. War Machine (NZ) — Ben, Will & JD Hayes · Damian Lane · barrier 18 · 56.5kg
5. Angel Capital — Chris Waller · Ben Melham · barrier 7 · 56kg
6. Lady Shenandoah — Chris Waller · Craig Williams · barrier 1 · 56kg
7. Warnie (IRE) — Ciaron Maher · Declan Bates · barrier 3 · 55kg
8. Feroce (NZ) — Dominic Sutton · Billy Egan · barrier 8 · 54.5kg
9. Von Hauke (NZ) — Cliff Brown · Harry Coffey · barrier 6 · 54.5kg
10. Planet Red — Mick Price & Michael Kent (Jnr) · Michael Dee · barrier 10 · 53.5kg
11. Sabaj — Mick Price & Michael Kent (Jnr) · Jamie Melham · barrier 13 · 53kg
12. Yellow Jersey (FR) — Tony & Calvin McEvoy · Daniel Stackhouse · barrier 16 · 53kg
13. Regal Award — Phillip & Tommy Stokes · Lachlan Neindorf · barrier 4 · 52.5kg
14. Sun God (GB) — Chris Waller · Jye McNeil · barrier 2 · 52.5kg
15. Persian Spirit — Symon Wilde · Damien Thornton · barrier 9 · 52kg
16. Recon — Pat Carey & Harris Walker · Patrick Moloney · barrier 12 · 52kg
17e. Harry's Yacht — Leon & Troy Corstens & Will Larkin · Jett Stanley · barrier 15 · 52kg
18e. Tennessee Bound — Ciaron Maher · barrier 11 · 52kg
Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes 2026: the main contenders
Lady Shenandoah
Chris Waller's triple Group 1-winning mare was the early favourite. She resumed with a 4th in the Winx Stakes at Randwick on 22 August, drew barrier 1 and carried 56kg with Craig Williams aboard.
Angel Capital
Ran 4th as favourite in this race last year after never getting a clear run, then finished 2nd in the Group 1 C.F. Orr Stakes. She has also placed in the Newmarket Handicap and William Reid Stakes. Ben Melham rode from barrier 7 with 56kg.
Warnie
Ciaron Maher's import won the Chautauqua Stakes (1300m) at Sandown on 9 September by 1¼ lengths under Mark Zahra. The stable says being gelded has settled him, and he has multiple wins at 1400m. Declan Bates rode from barrier 3 with 55kg.
Regal Award
The four-year-old from the Phillip and Tommy Stokes stable won the Fred Best at Eagle Farm in the Queensland winter. Tommy Stokes called this his best chance to win a Group 1, and he drew barrier 4 with just 52.5kg.
Sepals
The defending champion won last year from barrier 14 and was most recently 2nd in the Stradbroke Handicap. He carried 56.5kg from barrier 5 with Ethan Brown.
Evaporate
The Hayes stable's gelding resumed with a 3rd at Caulfield, then won over 1500m at Sandown on 5 September. He was on 56.5kg and drew wide in barrier 17.
Tom Kitten
The only horse to win the All-Star Mile back-to-back (2025 and 2026) was topweight on 59kg and drew barrier 14 with Mark Zahra. He ran 11th in the Memsie Stakes first-up for Anthony and Sam Freedman.
Also in the field
Mick Price and Michael Kent (Jnr) had Planet Red and Sabaj. Persian Spirit was a narrow 2nd resuming in the Regal Roller (1200m) at Caulfield.
Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes 2026 odds
In the TAB all-in market before the race, Lady Shenandoah was the $4 favourite, with Angel Capital, Regal Award and Warnie next at $8.
What is the Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes?
The Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes is a Group 1 open handicap over 1400m at Caulfield, worth $1 million. First run in 1951 as the Invitation Stakes, it has been a Group 1 since 1979 and is named after Sir Rupert Clarke, a former chairman of the Victoria Amateur Turf Club. It is one of the major sprint-mile races of the Melbourne Spring Carnival.
How much prizemoney is the Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes worth?
The Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes is worth $1,000,000. The winner collects $600,000, with money paid down to 8th place.
1st: $600,000
2nd: $180,000
3rd: $90,000
4th: $45,000
5th: $25,000
6th to 8th: $20,000 each
What are the Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes weights?
The Sir Rupert Clarke is a handicap, so each horse is allotted a weight based on its rating. In 2026 the minimum weight was 52kg and Tom Kitten was the topweight on 59kg.
Tom Kitten: 59kg
Sepals, Evaporate, War Machine: 56.5kg
Lady Shenandoah, Angel Capital: 56kg
Warnie: 55kg
Regal Award, Sun God: 52.5kg
History favours the lighter end: around 25 winners since 1995 carried between 49kg and 55.5kg, and only seven winners since 1983 have carried 57kg or more. Behemoth's 60kg win in 2020 is the standout exception.
Why the Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes matters for the Toorak Handicap
The Sir Rupert Clarke is the main lead-up to the Group 1 Toorak Handicap (1600m) at Caulfield three weeks later. Moving the race back to its traditional September slot in 2025 restored that link, after it spent two years in November.
Key lead-up races to the Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes
Memsie Stakes (Group 1, 1400m, Caulfield) — Behemoth won the Memsie and the Sir Rupert Clarke in 2020
Chautauqua Stakes (Group 3, 1300m, Sandown) — won by Warnie in 2026
Bobbie Lewis Quality (Flemington)
Let's Elope Stakes (Flemington, for mares)
Regal Roller Stakes (1200m, Caulfield)
Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes trends and stats
Favourites
Favourites have won the Sir Rupert Clarke seven times since 2007, including three in a row from 2012 to 2014 (Moment Of Change, Rebel Dane and Trust In A Gust). Roughies win too: Callsign Mav saluted at $15 in 2022.
Barriers
A wide draw is no barrier here. Seventeen winners since 1990 have come from double-digit gates, and Sepals won from barrier 14 last year. Since 1983, barriers 5 and 15 have produced the most winners.
Age and sex
Four-year-olds: 20 winners since 1983
Entires: 16 winners since 1990
Mares: 9 winners since 1983, most recently Kimochi in 2024
Three-year-olds: the last to win was Exceed And Excel in 2003
Weight
Most winners carry 55.5kg or less. Only seven winners since 1983 have carried 57kg or more.
Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes past winners
2025: Sepals — Cliff Brown / Craig Williams
2024: Kimochi — Gary Portelli / Craig Williams
2023: Magic Time — Grahame Begg / Michael Dee
2022: Callsign Mav — Danny O'Brien / Jamie Mott
2021: Sierra Sue — Busuttin & Young / Daniel Moor
2020: Behemoth — David Jolly / Craig Williams
2019: Begood Toya Mother — Daniel Bowman / Declan Bates
2018: Jungle Cat — Charlie Appleby / James Doyle
2017: Santa Ana Lane — Anthony Freedman / Dean Yendall
2016: Bon Aurum — Ciaron Maher / Kerrin McEvoy
2015: Stratum Star — Darren Weir / Craig Williams
2014: Trust In A Gust — Darren Weir / Damian Lane
2013: Rebel Dane — Gary Portelli / Glen Boss
2012: Moment Of Change — Peter Moody / Luke Nolen
2011: Toorak Toff — Rick Hore-Lacy / Craig Williams
2010: Response — Ellerton & Zahra / Craig Williams
2009: Turffontein — Anthony Cummings / Glen Boss
2008: Orange County — Brian Mayfield-Smith / Damien Oliver
2007: Bon Hoffa — Wendy Kelly / Vlad Duric
2006: Rewaaya — David Hayes / Craig Williams
Most successful jockeys and trainers in the Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes
Jockeys
Craig Williams dominates the race with eight wins: 2005, 2006, 2010, 2011, 2015, 2020, 2024 and 2025. Glen Boss has won it twice in the past 20 years.
Trainers
Since 2006, Gary Portelli (Rebel Dane, Kimochi) and Darren Weir (Trust In A Gust, Stratum Star) have each won it twice.
History of the Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes
The race was first run in 1951 as the Invitation Stakes, won by Jovial Lad, and became a Group 1 in 1979. Until 1994 it was run on Royal Melbourne Show Day. It has carried several sponsor names over the years before taking its current name in 2006:
1951–1974: Invitation Stakes
1975–1988: Marlboro Cup
1989–1991: Show Day Cup
1992–1999: Vic Health Cup
2000–2001: Eat Well Live Well Cup
2002–2005: Dubai Racing Club Cup
2006 onwards: Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes
St Joel won the race three times in the 1950s, while Anonyme (1961–62), Tauto (1970–71) and Testa Rossa (1999–2000) all went back-to-back. The champion sprinter Manikato won in 1978. After two years in November (2023 and 2024), the race returned to September in 2025.
Memorable Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes
2025: Sepals from the car park
Sepals jumped from barrier 14 at $3.50, pushed forward to sit outside the leader Zarastro, and held off Miss Roumbini by 0.75 lengths, with Feroce 3rd. Favourite Angel Capital never saw daylight and ran 4th. It was Craig Williams's eighth win in the race.
2020: Behemoth carries 60kg
Behemoth completed the Memsie Stakes–Sir Rupert Clarke double, the first horse to do it since 2004, and did it under a massive 60kg.
2018: Jungle Cat for Godolphin
Charlie Appleby's Jungle Cat, ridden by James Doyle, won in 1:21.31, one of the fastest times in the race's recent history.
2003: Exceed And Excel
Exceed And Excel is the last three-year-old to win the race, before going on to become a champion sire.
What else is on Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes day?
The Sir Rupert Clarke shares the Caulfield card with a second Group 1, the $1 million Underwood Stakes (1800m), along with the Naturalism Stakes (2000m), a Caulfield Cup lead-up, and the Caulfield Guineas Prelude (1400m).
How to watch the Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes
GET TO THE TRACK! Tickets are available through the Melbourne Racing Club. But if you can't, here's where to watch:
Free-to-air: Channel 7 (coverage can move between 7, 72 and 74) and the 7plus app
Racing.com: Channel 78, plus the Racing.com website and app
Pay TV: Sky Racing 1, Sky Racing 2 or Sky Thoroughbred Central
Streaming: Kayo
Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes FAQs
When was the Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes 2026?
Saturday 19 September 2026 at Caulfield Racecourse, Melbourne.
What distance is the Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes?
1400m.
How much is the Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes worth?
$1,000,000, with $600,000 to the winner.
Who won the Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes in 2025?
Sepals, trained by Cliff Brown and ridden by Craig Williams, at $3.50. Miss Roumbini ran 2nd and Feroce 3rd.
Is the Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes a handicap?
Yes. It's an open handicap for three-year-olds and upwards.
Which jockey has won the Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes the most?
Craig Williams, with eight wins.
Has any horse won the Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes more than once?
Yes. St Joel won three times (1953, 1956, 1959), and Private Talk (1976, 1979), Anonyme, Tauto and Testa Rossa each won twice.
Do favourites win the Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes?
Seven favourites have won since 2007, but wide draws and roughies are common. Callsign Mav won at $15 in 2022.
What is the Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes a lead-up to?
The Group 1 Toorak Handicap (1600m) at Caulfield, three weeks later.
Can horses win from a wide barrier?
Yes. Seventeen winners since 1990 have come from double-digit barriers, including Sepals from barrier 14 in 2025.