Almanac Horseracing: Caulfield Group 1 Racing, Saturday 20 September 2025

 

Spring is well and truly in the air now and we’ve got a huge day of Group 1 racing in Melbourne this weekend, highlighted by the running of the $1,000,000 Sportsbet Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes over 1400m and the $1,000,000 SEN Underwood Stakes over 1800m at Caulfield. And what a race the Group 2 $1,000,000 Yarraman Park Shorts over 1100m at Randwick promises to be – race 9 on the program up there, its going to be a great guide to The Everest in a few week’s time.

 

SEN Underwood Stakes, 1800m

 

The first of two big Group 1’s at Caulfield is race 7, the SEN Underwood Stakes run under Weight For Age (WFA) conditions over 1800m and we see a number of horses heading towards the Caulfield and Melbourne Cup’s engaged.

 

The lightly raced import 9 Sir Delius is a big spruik horse in the strong Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott stable making his Melbourne debut here. He won well on debut in Australia at Doomben back in mid-May over 2000m before being put away and returning with a strong second, beaten a head, behind Lindermann over 1600m at Randwick two weeks ago. That race was run under WFA conditions, and he looks ideally suited here. Craig Williams takes the ride and although he’s drawn wide, he should be able to get a position in the first half of the field and settle ahead of what I think will be his main dangers and have too much dash at the finish for them. He’s well in the markets for both Cups and will need to run well here to maintain that standing.

 

Hardest to beat will be 2 Buckaroo, who showed he’s come up well this time in with a strong finish to run second behind Treasurethe Moment in the Group 1 Memsie Stakes over 1400m at this track on 30 August. He won this race last year when third up and comes into the race second up this time, but that shouldn’t be an issue. He’ll get back but with leading rider Blake Shinn aboard he’s sure to get every chance. 11 Zardozi and 10 Moira can also figure in the finish. Zardozi finished off her race well over 1500m at Moonee Valley first up for new trainer, Ciaron Maher, running the fourth fastest last 400m and fastest last 200m sectionals for the meeting. 7 Middle Earth will also be improved by his first up run at this track when carrying 62kgs but is dropping back 200m here which won’t be to his benefit. With it seeming that Aeliana won’t head to the Caulfield Cup, Middle Earth is one out of this race I’ll be watching with that race in mind.

 

 

9 Sir Delius – 2 Buckaroo – 11 Zardozi – 10 Moira

 

 

Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes, 1400m

 

Race 8 on the program at Caulfield is the Group 1 Sportsbet Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes run at handicap conditions over 1400m.  A horse I tipped as one of my best two weeks ago in 9 Angel Capital goes on top again. He was very impressive first up in a Listed race over 1200m at Moonee Valley. Granted that was a small field and he was able to sit last and circle the field to win but it was the way he did it to win eased down by a little over 3 lengths. Damian Lane knew exactly what he had under him. He meets a much stronger and larger field here but from a wide barrier will settle back as he normally does and should prove too strong in the straight with a run down the middle of the track. He’s two wins from two starts over the Caulfield 1400m and was purchased by Yulong Investments needing a Group 1 win to set him up as a future stallion prospect and new trainer Chris Waller should see that aim achieved here. Hardest to beat will be another runner I tipped here recently when winning most impressively at Flemington first up in 16 Sepals. He’s drawn wide and so may need to be used up a little early if wanting to take up a forward position again and that’s my concern. With his light weight assisting to offset the wide barrier he goes in as the main danger.  Like Angel Capital he’s a horse on the way up. 1 Another Will is the proven class runner in the field and has the top weight of 59kgs to carry in view of that. He was a little plain first up in a stronger WFA race but likes this track and distance and is drawn to get the run of the race. 6 Feroce won the Group 1 Australian Guineas at Flemington over 1600, last preparation and I liked his run first up over 1100m here when carrying 60kgs. This race is more suitable, and he can figure in the finish with a little luck in the straight. 5 Arkansaw Kid on the quick back up and drawn to get a soft run, 10 Damask Rose who was very good first up and 12 Is It Me who finds a more suitable race here all have chances. It’s a good race.

 

9 Angel Capital – 16 Sepals – 1 Another Will – 6 Feroce

 

 

A couple of other runners I like this weekend are:

 

Caulfield race 10, 8 Gilded Water – The King’s horse who I tipped here first up when he raced on pace carrying 61.5kgs and finished third over 1800m on 30 August. He’s drawn wide again here but the step up to 2000m suits and with Mark Zahra sticking with him I’m banking on him being able to take up a forward position early without being used up too much and be too strong at the finish. He’s lightly raced and will be improved significantly by that first up run.

 

Randwick race 5, 11 Elamaz – a very interesting runner. Another lightly raced import who led and won his only start in Australia back in late June over 2000m at Rosehill. He’s first up here but was most impressive to my eye when second in a trial behind Sir Delius at Hawkesbury on 25 August. He was then ridden back when given an easy trial at Wyong on 8 September. He reportedly had a minor issue earlier in this preparation, hence the slightly later start to his campaign, and co-trainer Adrian Bott is on record as saying he thinks he’s still 12 months away from his best, but with James McDonald taking the ride here for Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott I think he can test his more favoured stable mate, Vauban, over the 2000m. Whatever Elamaz does here he will be improved and a horse to follow.

 

 

Gamble Responsibly. Chances are you’re about to lose.

 

 

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