Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes Racing Tips- Value aplenty with $26 shots set to surprise

Last year's winner Sepals returns to defend his crown, while Chris Waller has a strong hand with Lady Shenandoah, Angel Capital and Sun God.

Tom Kitten ($26) is an interesting contender at big odds despite being allocated the topweight of 59kg. The Anthony and Sam Freedman-trained galloper can be forgiven for his disappointing first-up performance in the Memsie Stakes (1400m)

Lady Shenandoah ($4.80) is another runner with outstanding credentials. The multiple Group 1-winning mare has drawn perfectly in barrier one and will carry 56kg, giving Craig Williams every opportunity to secure an economical run.

Stablemate Angel Capital ($6.50) is also capable of making his presence felt after enduring a luckless passage in last year's edition, when held up for much of the straight before charging home to finish fourth behind Sepals.

He was third in the Missile Stakes first-up before finding the race shape and soft track against him in the Memsie Stakes.

Waller believes the four-year-old is ready to peak third-up, and he should appreciate a firmer surface and a more genuine tempo. Barrier seven gives Ben Melham options, while his 56kg impost is another positive.

Evaporate ($7.50) has drawn the outside barrier but brings excellent recent form after winning the So You Think Stakes (1500m). The Ben, Will and JD Hayes-trained galloper is capable of settling forward and will need to overcome a wide draw.

Warnie ($9.50) is another with strong claims. The Ciaron Maher-trained galloper comes into the race following a last-start victory in the Chautauqua Stakes (1300m) and has drawn favourably in barrier three. 

He should be able to secure an economical run just behind the speed, which could prove particularly valuable in a capacity field, while he comes in with the best last start benchmark figures of any runner, having gone more than 17 lengths faster than standard in the Chautauqua. 

Persian Spirit ($26) is an interesting lightweight contender with just 52kg and a favourable draw in barrier nine. The Symon Wilde-trained galloper looks capable of settling around midfield and could be suited if the early pressure produces a genuine tempo. He is another that comes out of the Chautauqua Stakes. 

Defending champion Sepals ($13) resumes from a spell and has drawn barrier five, while Regal Award ($8) is another fresh runner with claims following a series of encouraging trials.

The Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes is Race 9 on the programme and the second of two Group 1 races, following the Underwood Stakes, which is Race 7. Fine conditions are expected for Caulfield and we can expect to race on a Good 4 surface. 

Yellow Jersey and Tennessee Bound look the likely leaders, although the latter is the second emergency and requires scratchings to gain a start. Evaporate and Sepals should be prominent, with Tom Kitten settling around midfield.

Angel Capital and Warnie are projected to settle further back, while Von Hauke and Persian Spirit may be giving the leaders a start.

A genuine tempo would improve the prospects of the midfield and backmarker runners, particularly those with strong finishing sections.

In an open race, Persian Spirit is a serious chance at very juicy odds. The Symon Wilde-trained galloper carries just 52kg and has drawn barrier nine, which should allow him to settle around midfield without being forced to work too hard early. With several runners capable of pushing forward, a genuine tempo could bring his finishing strength into play. He looks an interesting lightweight contender at $26. Geldings with 52kg have won five of the past 10 edition’s of this race and he should be peaking at the right time, coming in to this with two runs under the belt. 

Tom Kitten looks capable of producing a major form reversal in the Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes. The multiple Group 1 winner was chopped out of it in the Memsie Stakes at the 400m then saw no daylight whatsoever in the straight when resuming. His benchmark figures have shown significant improvement second-up in recent campaigns, claiming the All-Star Mile (1600m) at this stage last autumn, while he has an excellent record at Caulfield, including a track-and-distance victory and a narrow runner-up finish in the Futurity Stakes (1400m). The wide barrier and 59kg are challenges, but he should appreciate a firmer surface and has the class to measure up against this opposition. At $34, he is an appealing option at big odds.