For the Time Poor:
| Moment of the Day | Cliff Brown for posting his first Group 1 win since returning to Australia |
| Tactics Questioned | The beaten jockeys in Sunday’s Oaks Trial at Flemington |
| Flashing Lights (Follow) | Amleto (r1), Klabel (r4), Space Rider (r5) |
| Forgive Runs | Nation’s Call (r1), Planet Red (r5), Angel Capital (r8) |
| They Left It In The Bag | Vivid Sun (r6) |
| Punters Got The Lot | Sir Delius (r7), Half Yours (r9), Gilded Water (r10) |
| Time For A Lie Down | Angel Capital backers |
This table provides a race-by-race snapshot of how each event at Caulfield on Saturday was run and won. Using sectional time data benchmarked against historical standards, it delivers an easy-to-digest breakdown of early speed, late speed, and an overall race rating – giving you a clear picture of tempo and performance at a glance.
Track Summary:
- High winds throughout the week clearly dried the track right out, evidenced by some very quick times – especially in the Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes.
- As there is with any fair track, on-speed horses were rewarded, but classy conveyances could make ground with the right race shape.
- All in all, a big tick to the track staff for preparing a Group 1 deck for a Group raceday.
Moment of the Day: Cliff Brown takes down the Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes (+ Craig Williams)
I’ve had the pleasure of Cliff Brown’s company over dinner a few times and can say without hesitation that he’s one of the great blokes in racing. He’s entertaining, intelligent, and full of incredible stories from a life spent across both Australian and Singaporean racing.
For those who don’t know, Brown was a terrific trainer around the turn of the century, winning five Group 1s in Australia before heading to Singapore. There, he carved out a dominant 12-year stint before eventually returning home.
It was fitting then, to see him break through for his first Group 1 win since coming back to Australia – a reminder of just how good he is.
And, what about that ride from Craig Williams? It was superb. It completed a Group 1 double after he claimed the Underwood Stakes with a similarly positive ride on star import, Sir Delius.
From a wide draw, he made light work of any potential trouble, easing Sepals into the perfect spot on speed and one-off the fence. Any speed map concerns were quickly put to bed.
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
Sure, there were hard luck stories further back, but that shouldn’t detract from Sepals’ effort. He stopped the clock at 1.21.38 – only a length outside Exceed And Excel’s longstanding track record – and he did it from the front, dictating terms throughout. Adding to his performance is he was the only on-speed horse to stick on, with the second horse Miss Roumbini coming from last in what was a race run to suit the backmarkers.
I say it time and time again: more races are won and lost in the first 400 metres than the last 400. This was another perfect illustration.
It’s remarkable to think that just six starts ago Sepals opened $11 in a Sale maiden he would go on to win. Now, he’s a Group 1 star, and on this evidence his future looks incredibly bright.
Steer Of The Day – Jamie Mott on Yum (r6)
The fast tempo certainly played into her hands, but Jamie Mott’s steer on Yum was nothing short of sublime.
The filly was buried near last on the fence turning for home, with traffic all around, but Mott didn’t panic. He coolly saved ground by taking the inside runs early in the straight, before flicking the switch, angling off the fence, and finding clear air at just the right time.
“YUM – THE PUNTERS ARE LICKING THEIR LIPS!” 😋😋
An upset in the Jim Moloney Stakes as the John McArdle trained Yum makes it two in a row!
What a name 🤣🤣 pic.twitter.com/9S04zhpWVV
— 7HorseRacing 🐎 (@7horseracing) September 20, 2025
The Flashing Light:
- Amleto (r1) – This 6yo son of Sea The Stars has clearly had his issues since arriving on Australian shores, having managed just three stars in the last 18 months prior to Saturday. He got a mile back in a race run to suit the on speed horses before hitting the line strongly late – looks to have come back well.
Al Duca gives favourite punters a fast start at Caulfield!
Mark Zahra on the board for @FreedmanRacing 👏 pic.twitter.com/tobgJB48gn
— 7HorseRacing 🐎 (@7horseracing) September 20, 2025
- Klabel (r4) – Terrific first-up run from this 6yo gelding. He arguably wins the race if he got clean air at the top of the straight, but regardless, it was a eye-catching performance to charge into third behind Tiger Shark and Oak Hill. This bloke has a good second-up record and relishes 1200m – look out next start.
- Space Rider (r5) – The Caulfield Guineas Prelude was run at a farcical tempo (not a good prep run for the Guineas) – evidenced by the overall time being more than 12-lengths slower than the 3YO fillies in the Jim Moloney Stakes. The race was run totally to suit the leaders, so the effort of Space Rider to flash home into fourth producing blistering late splits was meritorious. The query is I’m not sure the form is that strong!
Forgive Me:
- Nation’s Call (r1) – Was quite well backed first up before settling in behind the speed and having no luck over the concluding stages. Consider it a second barrier trial for the preparation – he will go well next start.
- Planet Red (r5) – As noted above, the Guineas Prelude was run at a farcical tempo. Planet Red jumped well, but Mark Zahra grabbed hold trying to find cover which caused the gelding to over-raced badly – his work to the line was solid enough and he’s still very green.
The Market Binned – Planet Red (r5)
At times, late moves can prove telling, and that was the case with the huge late push against Planet Red in race five. I noted earlier he didn’t enjoy much luck in running, but the warning signs were there well before the gates opened. Astute yard watchers flagged that he hadn’t paraded well – described as toey and fresh – and that manner carried into the race, where he over-raced badly.
The fascinating part was how the market reacted to those signals. He was absolutely binned, drifting on the Exchange from $2.70 to a starting price of $3.19, all inside 120 seconds. The race shape certainly didn’t do him any favours, but in truth he looked beaten before stepping onto the track – and the market was all over it.
Al Duca gives favourite punters a fast start at Caulfield!
Mark Zahra on the board for @FreedmanRacing 👏 pic.twitter.com/tobgJB48gn
— 7HorseRacing 🐎 (@7horseracing) September 20, 2025
Tactics Questioned – The Oaks Trial (Flemington Sunday)
It was déjà vu from the Makybe Diva Stakes a fortnight earlier. Forget the Oaks Trial – this was nothing more than a barrier trial.
Yes, five fillies were being tested at the 1800m for the first time, so a steady tempo was forgivable. But race leader After Summer and Billy Egan weren’t just left alone in front – they were allowed to crawl, setting a tempo a staggering 42 lengths below standard.
Craig Williams on the odds-on favourite There Were Roses could be excused, locked away on the fence with little room to manoeuvre. But the rest of the field had ample time to inject some intent and make it a contest. Instead, they all sat quietly as After Summer coasted to the softest of victories.
Flemington Oaks Preview | After Summer
After Summer leads all the way for @TheBeeegan and Dominic Sutton 👏
📺 Ch. 78/68, Foxtel 529, Kayo or via our app
REPLAYS: https://t.co/ZIa4a02wC0 pic.twitter.com/MwtfSs4GRp— Racing.com (@Racing) September 21, 2025
Good on Racing.com’s Amy Yargi for pointing out the race was a farce and it did nothing to help any of the horses.
Is it time for pacemakers in our middle-distance/staying races?
The lesson for punters is fast becoming not to bet in ‘prep’ races (or just back the leader).
No one is any the wiser as to whether these fillies will get anything like 2500m.
They Left It In The Bag:
Vivid Sun (r6) was well backed both in the lead up to raceday and close to the jump in the Jim Moloney Stakes. She sat close to a hot tempo before quickly folding up in the home straight. It was a rare miss from punters on a day they generally beat up on the bookies.
Punters Got The Lot:
It was a punters’ day. Yum was the only horse at double figures to get the cash.
Sir Delius (r7), Half Yours (r9) and Gilded Water (r10) were truck-loaded both throughout the week and late in betting. They made up three of the four quaddie legs, with Sepals a well backed second favourite in the other leg. Anyone hoping to make it rich off the quaddie would’ve been quickly disappointed, with the dividend a measly $46.30.
While the wins of Half Yours and Gilded Water were painless for punters, Sir Delius produced the day’s fighting performance to claim the Underwood Stakes. He looked beaten when Buckaroo surged to the lead, and you’d wager he touched a very juicy price in-play, but his grit and stamina shone through.
That tenacity suggests he’s only going to improve as the trips get longer – keep him front of mind as a serious contender when the First Tuesday in November rolls around.
SIR DELIUS ⭐
He is very, very good! Sir Delius wears down Buckaroo to win the Underwood in a desperate finish 😲 pic.twitter.com/nWPapF89pi
— 7HorseRacing 🐎 (@7horseracing) September 20, 2025
Time For A Stiff Drink And A Lie Down…
Three words: Angel Capital backers.
It’s been done to death, but, with even luck, he should’ve won. And, that’s not to take anything away from Sepals.
If Damian Lane made a mistake, for mine it was in the first 2-300m. Maybe, just maybe he could’ve got a pair further forward, but the colt was already over-racing. As can be seen from this overhead shot, at no point was there a run for Angel Capital coming around the home bend or in the early part of the straight – it was just simple bad luck.
“He had to just take his medicine.”
Ollie breaks down Willo’s winning ride on Sepals, plus Damian Lane’s ride on Angel Capital and where it went wrong 👀 pic.twitter.com/Dwjzd3WcyO
— Racing.com (@Racing) September 20, 2025
Did you see? Bedggood stable land plunge with talented mare
4YO mare Enamorada was the subject of a significant plunge at Ballarat on Friday.
She opened as much as $11 when markets were first posted before tumbling into a dominant $2.80 favourite. The only thing that stopped her shortening further was the barriers opening.
She never gave her backers a moment of worry, winning by a widening six lengths with plenty in hand.
Brilliant debut winner for So You Think
Enamorada (4m So You Think x Fortune Of War) for @GavinBedggood
270k buy for Adrian Hall from Edinburgh Park at @mmsnippets Gold CoastSire leading the Winners list – this #34.
And 3rd by Earnings@CoolmoreAus pic.twitter.com/M1A83xSoXj— Breednet (@BreednetNews) September 19, 2025
She had been ‘well hidden’ at the trials, which probably helps to explain her opening price.
Social Media Sin Bin
If it was a public vote, I think the overwhelming consensus would be I put myself in here for my defensive take of Damian Lane’s ride on Angel Capital…..
Having watched the replay a few times, not sure Damian Lane made an error at all on Angel Capital. Sure, probably (maybe definitely) should’ve won, but don’t think it was pilot error. Example 10,098,986 as to why it’s so much easier to win races form on speed.
— Matt Welsh (@Matt__Welsh_) September 20, 2025
BUT, there were a few backing away from their strong views once a bit more evidence came to light on Sunday… Anyway, I stand by the original comment, but at the end of the day this is a game of opinions on largely subjective topics, which is what makes it so great.
