Craig Williams, the only jockey to have achieved the coveted Australian racing ‘Super Slam’—encompassing the Melbourne Cup, Caulfield Cup, Cox Plate, Golden Slipper, and The Everest—has previously won races of greater significance than the Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes.
Nevertheless, the highly respected rider has consistently held the 1400-metre handicap, scheduled for Caulfield this Saturday, in high regard.
His father, Allan, was victorious 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 deep familial connection made Williams’ first win in the race aboard Barely A Moment in 2005 a particularly special occasion.
“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.”
With eight triumphs already in the Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes, the 49-year-old jockey is now presented with the opportunity to equal an Australian Group 1 record aboard Lady Shenandoah this weekend.
George Moore is the sole 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 consecutive 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 the race in back-to-back years. His initial consecutive wins were with 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 carried the metric weight-carrying record of 60kg to victory, while Rewaaya won with 51kg. Williams’ ability to ride at 52kg last year demonstrates how his capacity to make weight provides him with 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, starting from the inside barrier from which Rewaaya triumphed, will carry 56kg for trainer Chris Waller. Williams considers this weight to be favourable for the five-year-old mare, given her status as a three-time Group 1 winner.
The daughter of Snitzel has not won since her most recent elite-level victory, the Coolmore Classic (1500m) in March of the previous year. However, she heads to Caulfield following a strong first-up fourth place in the Group 1 Winx Stakes (1400m), 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 a third consecutive win, and he dislikes watching any Group 1 race from the sidelines.
Williams has 90 Group 1 wins to his name, achieved across six countries, and he is not the only one eager 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 shared.
“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 the favourite to edge Williams closer to the century mark, priced at $4.80, with Regal Award ($7), Angel Capital ($7.50), and Evaporate ($8) also prominent in the betting.
Get the best racing odds from top Australian betting sites for the Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes.
