Craig Williams aims for history in Caulfield Group 1

Craig Williams, the only jockey to have conquered Australian racing's 'Super Slam'—comprising the Melbourne Cup, Caulfield Cup, Cox Plate, Golden Slipper, and The Everest—has secured victories in races of greater prestige than the Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes.

Nevertheless, the decorated rider has always held the 1400-metre handicap, set to be contested at Caulfield this Saturday, in exceptionally high esteem.

His father, Allan, achieved success in the race, then known as the Marlboro Cup, aboard Private Talk in 1979, and later trained Black Rogue to win the VicHealth Cup in 1993.

This strong family association made Williams' inaugural triumph in the race, piloting Barely A Moment in 2005, particularly significant.

"Every race we win is special, but because there is some family history through this race, a bit of lineage, then it is really quite special," Williams stated.

"Dad won it as a jockey then he trained the winner, Black Rouge, and I was a young kid at the time, dreaming of being a jockey, and I remember being part of that process.

"I'm only where I am now because of my upbringing and the people support me, so it is special."

Having already won the Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes on eight occasions, the 49-year-old jockey is now in a position to equal an Australian Group 1 record aboard Lady Shenandoah this weekend.

George Moore stands as the only jockey with more wins in a specific Group 1 race, having claimed the George Main Stakes (now the King Charles III Stakes) nine times.

Williams is pursuing a third successive victory in the Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes, having followed his 2024 win on Kimochi with success on Sepals last year.

This marks the third instance of Williams winning consecutive editions of the race. His first back-to-back wins were aboard Rewaaya, followed by wins on Response and Toorak Toff in 2010/11.

His other victories in the event were with Stratum Star in 2015 and Behemoth in 2020.

Behemoth set the metric weight-carrying record by carrying 60kg to victory, whereas Rewaaya carried 51kg. Williams managed to ride at 52kg last year, recognizing that his capacity to ride light weights grants him more chances in the Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes than most.

"It gives me a great opportunity every year to try and find the right horse," Williams commented.

"But you still need the right horse, the right-handicapped horse.

"I've drawn great barriers, bad barriers, and I've been lucky enough, with my manager, that those opportunities have made us be very successful in the race."

Lady Shenandoah, set to start from the inside barrier from which Rewaaya triumphed, will carry 56kg for trainer Chris Waller. Williams views this weight as favourable for the five-year-old mare, considering her three Group 1 victories.

The daughter of Snitzel has not crossed the line first since her most recent top-flight win, the Coolmore Classic (1500m) in March of the previous year. However, she arrives at Caulfield following a solid first-up fourth in the Group 1 Winx Stakes (1400m), which was won by the champion mare Autumn Glow.

"Her run first-up was excellent and she's very well off in the handicap I would say with 56 kilos, only four kilos off the minimum, being a three-time Group 1 winner," Williams noted.

"She's the right sort of horse to be winning this year's Sir Rupert Clarke."

The Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes is one of two $1 million Group 1 races at Caulfield this Saturday, alongside the weight-for-age Underwood Stakes (1800m), a race Williams also won last year aboard Sir Delius.

He will not have a ride in this year's Underwood Stakes, preventing him from winning it for a third time, and he dislikes observing any Group 1 race from the sidelines.

Williams boasts 90 Group 1 wins to his name, achieved across six countries, and he is not the only one keen to see him reach triple figures before his career concludes.

"Dr David Young, who puts me back together when I get smashed up, he says, 'I've got you back together because I want you to get those 100 Group 1s'," Williams revealed.

"He's a big driving force and that is one of our goals, to get to 100 Group 1s.

"Then we'll reassess and make another goal later on."

Lady Shenandoah is currently the favourite to help Williams edge closer to the century mark, priced at $4.80, with Regal Award ($7), Angel Capital ($7.50), and Evaporate ($8) also considered strong contenders.

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