SIR RUPERT CLARKE STAKES 2020 PREVIEW
3YO+ OPEN
1400m
$500,000
GOOD 4
Rail OUT 3m entire
| # | Form | Horse | Trainer | Jockey (barrier) | Weight (kg) | Current Price |
| 1 | 14x11 | BEHEMOTH | D JOLLY | C WILLIAMS (5) | 60.0 | $4.20 |
| 2 | x2705 | STREETS OF AVALON | S NICHOLS | D W STACKHOUSE (17) | 58.5 | $23 |
| 3 | 77x46 | BEGOOD TOYA MOTHER | DANIEL BOWMAN | D BATES (4) | 58.0 | $18 |
| 4 | 19x44 | CASCADIAN | JAMES CUMMINGS | D OLIVER (8) | 58.0 | $11 |
| 5 | 122x9 | SUPERSTORM | G & A WILLIAMS | W PIKE (18) | 57.0 | $9 |
| 6 | 08x85 | DOLLAR FOR DOLLAR | T & C MCEVOY | L NOLEN (7) | 56.5 | $23 |
| 7 | 702x6 | MADAM ROUGE | C WALLER | B MELHAM (20) | 56.0 | $17 |
| 8 | 111x5 | MANDELA EFFECT | S BRUNTON | C NEWITT (2) | 56.0 | $41 |
| 9 | 15674 | REYKJAVIK | L SMITH | D YENDALL (11) | 56.0 | $26 |
| 10 | 223x8 | ACHERNAR STAR | L SMITH | J MOTT (1) | 55.5 | $41 |
| 11 | 63x23 | AGE OF CHIVALRY | MATHEW ELLERTON & SIMON ZAHRA | D LANE (13) | 55.5 | $8 |
| 12 | 4905x | DEBT AGENT | J CONLAN | W EGAN (3) | 54.5 | $61 |
| 13 | 22x71 | PRETTY BRAZEN | T & C MCEVOY | L CURRIE (10) | 54.5 | $15 |
| 14 | 5x121 | ROHERYN | JAMES CUMMINGS | J ALLEN (14) | 54.5 | |
| 15 | 124x3 | TAGALOA | T B & N YOUNG | M WALKER (12) | 54.0 | $7.50 |
| 16 | 25x72 | BANQUO | D O'BRIEN | J M NEIL (6) | 54.0 | $9 |
| 17 | 2224x | HARLECH | M MORONEY | M J DEE (9) | 54.0 | $26 |
| 18 | 470x1 | I AM SUPERMAN | P & P SNOWDEN | 54.0 | $19 | |
| 19 | 050x6 | GOLD FIELDS | LOGAN MCGILL | 54.0 | $126 | |
| 20 | 120x3 | RUNSON | Leon & Troy Corstens | 54.0 | $41 |
OVERVIEW
Melbourne Group 1 racing is really starting to heat up now, as evidenced by this field which features multiple Group 1 winners. Behemoth lines up as favourite after a superb effort to win the Memsie Stakes last start. There are a number of challengers however, and with a hot pace up front, tactics could play a huge part here. Looks like a cracking race.
SPEED MAP
This looks set to be an extremely fast edition of the Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes, with at least five noted on-pace runners lining up. It might be Streets of Avalon who leads them out from a wide gate, but any of; Begood Toya Mother, Dollar For Dollar or Age of Chivalry could land the front. Banquo and Tagaloa look set to get the best runs in the race just behind the leading bunch.
KEY RUNNERS
- BEHEMOTH ($4.20)
Won impressively last start in the Group 1 Memsie Stakes, sitting just behind the speed before taking over late in the piece and running away with it. He also lowered the colours of the talented Dalasan over in Morphettville the start prior. Maps behind the speed here and looks tough to beat again.
- AGE OF CHIVALRY ($8)
Has worked his way through the grades gallantly in the past few preps, but has just come up a short a few times at black type level. He began the prep well, with a great return first up where he was just nabbed on the line before a tough run at The Valley second up. Will improve from that run and with a favourable run up on the speed, he looks set to run well again here.
- TAGALOA ($7.50)
The Group 1 Blue Diamond winner from last prep has returned well this prep. Despite being off the bit at the 600m first up, he was able to fight on bravely and just missed in a photo finish. That looks to set up a big prep for the Colt and with a great position in the run, he could be another who is right there in the finish.
BLUEY’S PICK
- BEHEMOTH ($4.20)
The last start Group 1 Memsie Stakes lines up as favourite here, and for good reason too. He has gone from strength to strength in the past two preps, scoring wins at Morphettville and making the move across to Melbourne, ultimately resulting in Group 1 success. Should sit behind the hot speed and can finish over the top of them again here.
