A perfect Craig Williams steer guided rising star Sepals to victory in the Group 1 Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield on Saturday.

Williams has owned the Sir Rupert Clarke in recent times, with the win aboard Sepals for trainer Cliff Brown his eighth success in the feature event.

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After sneaking into the field, Sepals drew the outside barrier, but Williams soon made light work of that, sitting up outside the leader Zarastro under his own steam.

Williams then booted clear in the straight to hold off Miss Roumbini and Feroce in the drive to the line.

Race favourite Angel Capital finished fourth and was the unlucky runner of the race, failing to see daylight at any stage of the event.

SEPALS IS A GROUP 1 STAR ⭐

Craig Williams makes it a Group 1 double and wins his eighth Rupert Clarke Stakes!

Cliff Brown is back at the top as a trainer 👏👏 pic.twitter.com/V5tmV8JzgP

— 7HorseRacing 🐎 (@7horseracing) September 20, 2025

This is what the riders thought of their mount’s performance in the Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes.

■ ■ ■ ■ ■

1st – SEPALS (Craig Williams) I had the right horse presented by the horse’s trainer, Cliff Brown and all his staff. From an outside barrier this horse made effortless work of it and I could do what I wanted on him because he was very well-prepared and he’s a bloody good horse too. It’s hard to win Group 1s and he’s done it and that’s not it for this horse, he’s got more to come. He’s just got such a good action, he’s got a great motor and I was very fortunate to ride him today.

2nd – MISS ROUMBINI (Beau Mertens) Fantastic run. She was just a little bit slow away, from a wide draw we had to go back from then on in even though we were far away we had a lovely run in transit and she showed an electric turn of foot, just unfortunately we were a bit far off Sepals and she put her best foot forward and ran a super race.

3rd – FEROCE (Billy Egan) Come back really well, another good stepping stone for later on this prep.

4th – ANGEL CAPITAL (Damian Lane) Pilot had a nightmare.

5th – PINSTRIPED (Jamie Mott) Rode him in behind today, he travelled great, just unfortunately had Another Wil outside me that just held us in. I was wanting to get building before the corner but I had to sprint once I got out and I thought he was terrific.

6th – ZOU SENSATION (Luke Currie) Ran great. I wanted to be a little bit closer but he wasn’t going to hold that spot. Come back, travelled well behind Another Wil and he felt like he was going to be right in it at the top of the straight and held his ground well.

7th – DAMASK ROSE (Michael Dee) Happy with the run. She quickened up nicely and stuck on really well.

8th – JENNILALA (Harry Coffey) Really honest. Ran well, felt the pinch late once she was presented but she ran really well and did a good job.

9th – HERE TO SHOCK (Daniel Stackhouse) He ran well, just with the 58 kilos in a brutally run race just a little bit tough for him.

10th – ARKANSAW KID (Blake Shinn) He was slightly disappointing. We had a nice run from the draw but he got the turn, got the run and just failed to finish off today.

11th – PORT LOCKROY (Jye McNeil) He just found this level a little bit tough today. He had a good draw and a good run but potentially looking for further.

12th – IS IT ME (Patrick Moloney) Not a Caulfield horse around 1400m, not dynamic enough, but I think he’s going fantastic for a target race at Flemington during Cup Week.

13th – ANOTHER WIL (Jamie Melham) Nothing went right in that race for him today. I thought he was back to almost near his best but he’s not come back at all, so Janice has got to put him in the paddock for a long time and see if that can bring him back to his best.

14th – ZARASTRO (Angela Jones) Not the Zarastro we know. He was very quick to fold and wasn’t able to find anything in the straight, so hopefully he pulls up well.

N/A – CHORLTON LANE (Celine Gaudray) Failed to finish.