Cliff Brown has unearthed a potential star with Sepals after the gelding produced a tough victory in the Group 1 Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes at Caulfield.

Despite stumbling at the start from a wide draw, jockey Craig Williams urged Sepals forward to sit outside the lead in Saturday’s 1400m feature. The $3.50 chance surged clear in the straight before holding off Miss Rolumbini by three-quarters-of-a-length, with Feroce ($31) flashing home for third. His winning time of 1:21.39 was just shy of the course record.

Brown, who forged his career in Australia before spending over a decade in Singapore, described the result as especially rewarding. He returned home in 2021 and came close to Group 1 glory with The Inferno in the Manikato Stakes, but Saturday marked his first elite win since his return.

“I’ll see what the boys want to do, but this is very special,” Brown said. “I’m really pleased for everyone. Jo, the kids, the staff — they’re amazing. He’s a special horse and deserves the attention he gets.”

Brown recalled Tarnpir Lane’s near-miss in the same race back in 1997, when he later ran second in the Epsom Handicap. Sepals is also entered for this year’s Epsom but no firm plans have been set.

Williams’ aggressive tactics surprised even Brown. “It was quite interesting. He came out and said he’d let him find his feet, but that went out the window. That’s what he does, and that’s why you put the best on,” Brown said.

Williams believes Sepals is only beginning. “It’s hard to win Group 1s and he’s done it. That’s not it for this horse — he’s got more to come. He’s got such a good action and a great motor. I was fortunate to ride him today.”