Caulfield Racing: Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes Betting Tips

Yulong Park Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes 1400m – Group 1

The Group 1 Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes is one of two Group 1 races on the card at Caulfield this Saturday and a field of 14 runners is set to line up over the 1400m.

Caulfield has been racing very fairly of late and with the rail in the True position today should be no different. The track is currently rated as a Good and it should remain that way for the entirety of the card.

The speed in the race looks as if it could come from those at the bottom of the weights, though the New Zealander Xtravagant may find the front from barrier 6. Jungle Edge will speed across from the widest barrier, which should make sure this is run at a fairly good tempo.

I expect Mr Individual and Thames Court to make use of their light weights and good barriers to sit very handy to the speed, while Tivaci could find himself a bit closer today from barrier 3.

Counterattack and Bon Aurum will be somewhere around midfield from barriers 7 and 5 respectively, while Darren Weir’s pair Voodoo Lad and Telopea will try to find cover from barriers 10 and 11.

Fast ‘N’ Rocking typically gets back in the field and may have some traffic to negotiate from barrier 2, while Under The Louvre and Well Sprung will also go back from wide barriers. Badawiya and Rangipo will need luck slotting in, with the former a possibility of going forward with her light weight.

The main chances here lie with Under The Louvre, Xtravagant, Counterattack, Voodoo Lad, Tivaci and Bon Aurum.

Under The Louvre has run well at both his starts so far this campaign and did well to finish so close under his big weight last start. He’ll have to shoulder 58kg here but he’s better around a bend and has only ever missed a place once from 10 starts at Caulfield.

Xtravagant has stacks of ability which we have seen win him Group 1’s in New Zealand, but his two Australian starts have seen him fail miserably. That included last start at Flemington, but if he were to produce his best he would go close in a race like this. Oliver sticks and you can’t completely rule him out, but you’d have to take him on your own trust.

Voodoo Lad produced a phenomenal performance to come from last to win at the Valley last start. The form has been franked through Keen Array but this is definitely his toughest test yet. From barrier 10 it’s likely he’ll have to go back again and will need a good ride.

One at each way odds in with a sneaky chance is Tivaci for Mick Moroney and Patrick Maloney. He returned with an impressive performance first up when 2nd behind Faatinah, finishing ahead of the likes of Under The Louvre. He drops in weight to 52kg here and from barrier 3 should enjoy a premium run. Up to 1400m suits and he could feature in the finish.

The two that interest me most are Bon Aurum and Counterattack.

Bon Aurum looks as if he’s returned in supreme order, with a strong showing first up followed by an impressive victory at Flemington last start. This is significantly harder but he won with authority last start and gets in with only 52kg here. From barrier 5 he will get all the favours and it wouldn’t surprise me to see him win.

The one I want to be on is Counterattack for Chris Waller, though. This horse was as unlucky as you can get first up when held up horribly in the straight. He got out late and absolutely charged home to miss narrowly. He looks to have returned a real racehorse and we know he’s got the ability. Waller seemed very bullish and with 54kg from barrier 7 he looks a very good chance of winning this. $3.70 looks backable.

1st COUNTERATTACK
2nd BON AURUM
3rd UNDER THE LOUVRE
4th TIVACI