Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes Tips & Predictions 2026: Best Bets

LADY SHENANDOAH (1) heads into the 2026 Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes as the clear favourite, and the rails‑drawn Snitzel mare looks superbly placed to strike back in a big way.

Waller scratched her from a clash with Autumn Glow in Sydney to target this $1 million handicap, and the move makes perfect sense: she’s a triple Group 1 winner, a proven 1400m specialist, and she gets a dream set‑up with Craig Williams taking the reins.

Punters have piled in early, hoping she can continue the strong recent run of mares in the race and become the fourth female winner in six years.

Her form reads far better than the winless streak suggests.

Since completing the Surround–Coolmore Classic double as a filly, she’s raced almost exclusively in elite company and has missed the Top 4 only once — her brave The Everest seventh, beaten just two lengths by the mighty Ka Ying Rising.

Fresh this prep she was outstanding at big odds in the Group 1 Winx Stakes, finishing fourth behind her star stablemate Autumn Glow and earning glowing praise from Kerrin McEvoy, who declared she’d “improve from the run” and was “in for a lovely prep”.

Back to a handicap, back to her pet trip, and back on firmer ground, she finally gets conditions that suit.

Second‑up she’s historically sharp, she maps to settle midfield with a soft trail from the inside draw, and she brings genuine A‑grade form lines into a race where many rivals are still building fitness.

With her class, her consistency, and the perfect set‑up, Lady Shenandoah looks primed to remind the Caulfield racegoers why she’s one of the best mares in the country — and she’s the one they all have to beat.

Lady Shenandoah is our favourite but she’s yet to run at Caulfield so for a value each way play I’m keen on SEPALS (5) first-up from a good gate.

He’s the defending Cliff Brown-trained champion who is out to go back-to-back in the Sir Rupert for the first time since Testa Rossa (1999-2000), and he’s got genuine claims to do so in my opinion.

The Calyx gelding loves the Caulfield track having won two from three here to date and is the 1400m specialist in the mix (6:5-1-0).

Unbeaten at the track and trip, he’s drawn ideally and runs for the first time since an excellent second in Brisbane’s Group 1 Stradbroke Handicap.

He’s a horse that usually takes a few to wind up so may need the run, but Ethan Brown is in fine form, and this horse handles all conditions.

Only won once from four previous first-up assignments but will go close.

There are a host of other better fancied dangers in the mix, but at 25/1 the standout roughie for mine that can shock a few with a run in the Top 6 is SUN GOD (2).

A stablemate to the favourite, I always love another Waller-trained runner to finish in the money behind the top-tier runners from this super stable, and this guy ticks a few boxes to suggest he can outrun his price.

Drawn a dream in gate two for former Melbourne Cup winning hoop Jye McNeil, this Fastnet Rock six-year-old is finally being thrown in the deep end having his maiden Group status start.

The UK import has won three of his past four starts around the nation and is starting to put together a pretty tidy record, albeit in much easier company.

He had three Listed runs over a terrific winter prep and saluted twice, most recently at Eagle Farm in the Listed Tatt’s Mile in late June over War Eternal.

Obviously, this is a different level, and he’ll need to really rise to the occasion, but his first-up record is pretty solid including a tight Listed Luskin Star win at Scone last prep.

He carries a postage stamp weight of just 52.5kg, gets the favours from barrier two and looks a genuine blowout chance for exotics.

Check out all my top Saturday roughie tips now over at Hendo’s Hopefuls! 

• Top 3 – No. 6 Lady Shenandoah
• Top 4 – No. 3 Sepals
• Top 6 – No. 14 Sun God

LADY SHENANDOAH (1) drops back to a handicap, draws the rail, brings elite 1400m Group 1 form and a strong second‑up profile, making her a class‑laden and rock‑solid Top 3 play.

SEPALS (5) is unbeaten at the Caulfield 1400m, draws well, returns off a Stradbroke second and looks a proven, value‑packed Top 4 chance as the defending champion.

SUN GOD (2) draws perfectly, carries no weight, brings winning Listed form and a sharp first‑up record, making him a genuine blowout chance to run Top 5 at big odds.