The 2018 Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes (1400m) has drawn a simply outstanding field to Caulfield on Saturday afternoon and we are set for one of the most open Group 1 feature races of the entire Spring Carnival.
Godolphin will be offered three live chances of winning the Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes 2018, with the James Cummings-trained pair of Home Of The Brave ($4.60) and Osborne Bulls ($6) joined by Charlie Appleby-trained, British raider Jungle Cat ($10) in acceptances.
Home Of The Brave has only made two appearances since debuting for Cummings this time, but has more than stamped himself as a horse to follow in finishing a close-up second in the Group 3 Aurie’s Star Handicap (1200m) first-up, before delivering a smart field an easy defeat in the Group 2 Theo Marks Stakes (1300m) a fortnight ago.
A step up to 1400m looks ideal and while he will need some luck to find a position on-pace from the potentially sticky barrier 10, he is a fitting occupant of the top line of Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes betting.
Osborne Bulls has been a strong and consistent performer throughout his entire racing career so far and is yet to miss a place through eleven starts.
Sent to the paddock after posting his first black type win in the Listed Luskin Star Stakes (1300m) in May, the Street Cry gelding dug deep to win the Listed Regal Roller Stakes (1200m) first-up this time and is sure to have taken plenty of improvement from the hit-out.
Jungle Cat has never stepped out on an Australian track competitively, but he has been simply outstanding in the Northern Hemisphere and could prove to be the value in Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes betting at his current price.
The Iffraaj entire has posted seven wins and a further twelve minors through his thirty career starts to date and is yet to taste anything but success through his three starts this year; notching wins in both the Group 1 Al Fahidi Fort (1400m) and Group 1 Al Quoz Sprint (1200m) in Dubai, most notably.
Interestingly, only one horse further to the Godolphin stable mates are currently available at Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes odds of less-than $10 and Land Of Plenty ($6) looks ready to peak third-up.
The Stratum entire has been a notable competitive since debuting for Graeme Begg in 2016, but he has clearly taken a big step up in class since transferring to the care of Darren Weir prior to autumn.
Having returned to the paddock after winning the Group 3 RA Lee Stakes (1600m) at Morphettville in May, Land Of Plenty ran on well to finish a close second behind Osborne Bulls in the Regal Roller Stakes first-up, before returning to winning form in the Listed Bendigo Bank Stakes (1200m) last time out.
The step up in trip looks ideal at this point of his preparation, but he is another horse that will need luck after drawing wide.
There is a case to be made for nearly every runner in 2018 Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes betting, including Dollar For Dollar ($18), Mr Sneaky ($15) and Oregon’s Day ($16).