Craig Williams, distinguished as the only jockey to have achieved Australian racing’s ‘Super Slam’—the prestigious Melbourne Cup, Caulfield Cup, Cox Plate, Golden Slipper, and The Everest—has recorded victories in races of greater magnitude than the Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes.
Despite this, the highly decorated rider has consistently placed significant importance on the 1400-metre handicap, scheduled for Caulfield this Saturday.
His father, Allan, was successful in the race, formerly known as the Marlboro Cup, aboard Private Talk in 1979, and later trained Black Rogue to win the VicHealth Cup in 1993.
This deep family connection made Williams’ first win in the race aboard Barely A Moment in 2005 a particularly cherished moment.
“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 remarked.
“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 a remarkable eight victories already in the Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes, the 49-year-old jockey is now in contention to match an Australian Group 1 record aboard Lady Shenandoah this weekend.
The only jockey to have secured more wins in a specific Group 1 race is George Moore, who achieved nine victories in the George Main Stakes, now referred to as the King Charles III Stakes.
Williams is aiming for an unprecedented third consecutive win in the Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes, having secured victory aboard Kimochi in 2024 and then Sepals last year.
This achievement marks the third time Williams has won the race in successive years. His initial back-to-back wins were with Rewaaya, followed by wins on Response and Toorak Toff in 2010/11.
His other successes in the event came via Stratum Star in 2015 and Behemoth in 2020.
Behemoth set the metric weight-carrying record by carrying 60kg to victory, while Rewaaya won with 51kg. Williams’ ability to ride at 52kg last year highlights how his capacity to make weight affords him more opportunities in the Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes than many other riders.
“It gives me a great opportunity every year to try and find the right horse,” Williams explained.
“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, commencing from the inside barrier—the same position from which Rewaaya achieved victory—will carry 56kg for trainer Chris Waller. Williams considers this weight to be advantageous for the five-year-old mare, given her three Group 1 victories.
The daughter of Snitzel has not registered a win since her most recent elite-level triumph, the Coolmore Classic (1500m) in March of the previous year. Nevertheless, 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 stated.
“She’s the right sort of horse to be winning this year’s Sir Rupert Clarke.”
The Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes stands as one of two $1 million Group 1 races at Caulfield this Saturday, sharing the platform with the weight-for-age Underwood Stakes (1800m), a race Williams also won last year aboard Sir Delius.
He is without a ride in this year’s Underwood Stakes, thus preventing a third consecutive win in that event, and he expresses a dislike for watching any Group 1 race from the sidelines.
Williams has amassed 90 Group 1 victories across six countries, and he is not alone in his anticipation of him reaching the century mark 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 favoured to propel Williams closer to his century goal, currently priced at $4.80, with Regal Award ($7), Angel Capital ($7.50), and Evaporate ($8) also being prominent contenders.
Check out the latest Australian betting sites for the best racing odds on the Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes.
