Invitation Stakes

Race Preview

The Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes is a Group 1 race held at Caulfield racecourse annually as part of the Melbourne spring racing carnival. It is the second Group 1 meeting of the new racing season held a week after the Underwood Stakes. The two races used to be run on the same day but a fixture change in 2011 means it now has its own standalone race day.

The race itself is run over a distance of 1400 metres and is an open handicap carrying $350,000 in prize money. Horses that run well here will often go on to further Group 1’s in the spring including the Toorak Handicap, the Caulfield Guineas and the Emirates Stakes which are all run over similar distances and conditions.

The Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes was first run in 1951 and was upgraded to Group 1 status in 1979. It was originally named the Invitation Stakes as it was for invited jockeys, but was renamed in honour of Sir Rupert Clarke.

It is now held the same day as the Caulfield Guineas Prelude, a Group 3 race that is pretty important for producing contenders for the Caulfield Guineas. This year’s edition of the Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes promises to be a strong field of horses.

Spotting Winners

When trying to pick a winner in this race, it pays to keep an eye on important lead up races held a few weeks earlier such as the Memsie Stakes and Bobby Lewis Handicap, as horses who perform well in these races normally go on to run well in the Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes.

The last 3-year-old colt or gelding to win this race was Exceed And Excel in 2003, while the no 3-year-old filly has ever won this race. Rewaaya was the last mare to win the race back in 2006.

Previous Invitation Stakes Winners