Sepals in line for G1 honours in the 2025 Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes

Sepals will attempt to deliver Cliff Brown a long-awaited Group 1 triumph when he contests the Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield this weekend.

Brown, who spent over a decade training in Singapore with multiple top-level victories, returned to Melbourne in 2021 and went close when The Inferno finished runner-up in the Manikato Stakes. His latest hope lies with Sepals, a lightly raced gelding with proven talent but facing his toughest assignment yet.

From just six career starts, Sepals has claimed a Group 2 and placed fourth in the Group 1 Australian Guineas (1600m). He was scratched from the Group 2 P B Lawrence Stakes (1400m) last month after a barrier mishap but rebounded with a commanding 4-½ length win in a benchmark race at Caulfield. Craig Williams, impressed by that effort, booked the ride soon after.

“He looks well and we’re hopeful,” Brown said.

“The 1400-metre start at Caulfield is tricky enough, let alone jumping from the near outside gate.

“It isn’t perfect, and it will be dependent on how the track is playing as well. He was impressive the other day, but it was a benchmark race, and we have to now go several levels higher.

“Angel Capital did it in a Group race and was just as impressive against better opposition.”

Brown said Sepals had matured physically and mentally since last year, though admitted Saturday’s performance would reveal just where he fits among seasoned campaigners.

“He didn’t grow a lot, but he certainly thickened and strengthened and mentally he knows what it’s about now, so on Saturday we will find out a lot of things,” Brown said.

“But the barrier is a concern, and we must be mindful of a few factors of how the race is run, where he settles and how he runs himself.”

Punters keen to back Sepals in the Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes can access odds and offers at Australia’s top betting sites.