As the only the only jockey to have won Australian racing’s ‘Super Slam’ – the established Big 4 of the Melbourne Cup, Caulfield Cup, Cox Plate and Golden Slipper, plus The Everest – Craig Williams has won much bigger races than the Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes.
But the Hall of Famer-in-waiting has always rated the 1400-metre handicap, which will be run at Caulfield this Saturday, more highly than most.
Williams’ father Allan won it as a jockey, aboard Private Talk in 1979 when it was known as the Marlboro Cup, and again as a trainer when he prepared Black Rogue to win the VicHealth Cup in 1993.
That’s why it was so special when Williams won the race he has dominated like no other rider for the first time aboard Barely A Moment in 2005.
“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 said.
“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.”
Williams has won the Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes eight times and this weekend presents the 49-year-old with the chance to equal an Australian Group 1 record aboard Lady Shenandoah.
The only rider who has won a specific Group 1 race more times than Williams has won the Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes is George Moore, who was a nine-time winner of the George Main Stakes, which is now known as the King Charles III Stakes.
Williams is chasing a third-straight win in the Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes, having backed up 2024’s win aboard Kimochi with victory aboard Sepals last year.
That was the third time Williams has won back-to-back editions. His inaugural win was followed by victory aboard Rewaaya, while he won on Response and Toorak Toff in 2010/11.
His other wins came via Stratum Star in 2015 and Behemoth in 2020.
Behemoth set the metric weight-carrying record when he lumped 60kg to victory, but Rewaaya won with 51kg and Williams got down to 52kg last year and he understands his ability to get down in the weights affords him more Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes chances than most.
“It gives me a great opportunity every year to try and find the right horse,” Williams said.
“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.”
Rewaaya won from the inside alley, which is the where Lady Shenandoah will start from on Saturday.
The Chris Waller-trained five-year-old will carry 56kg, thanks to being a three-time Group 1 winner, which Williams considers a good recipe for her chances this weekend.
The daughter of Snitzel hasn’t won since the most recent of those elite level wins, the Coolmore Classic (1500m) in March last year, but heads to Caulfield off a solid first-up fourth placing in the Group 1 Winx Stakes (1400m) won by 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 said.
“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), which Williams also won last year, aboard Sir Delius.
He does not have a ride in this year’s Underwood Stakes, meaning he can’t win it for the third time, and does not like watching any Group 1 race from the sidelines.
Williams has 90 of them to his name, won across six countries, and he is not the only one eager to see him get to triple figures before his career is out.
“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 said.
“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 favourite to edge Williams within nine of the century, a $4.80 chance in a market that also sees Regal Award ($7), Angel Capital ($7.50) and Evaporate ($8) prominent.
Most wins in specific Group 1 race
9 – George Moore (George Main Stakes)
8 – Craig Williams (Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes)
Tom Hales (Australian Cup)
Bobbie Lewis (Victoria Derby)
Roy Higgins (Futurity Stakes)
