With most of the hype heading into this year’s running of the $1m Group 1 MRC Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes (1400m) surrounding the four-year-olds, the Cliff Brown trained Sepals justified that hype, highlighting his class to come out on top with a brilliant win.
Successful in the Group 3 CS Hayes Stakes (1400m) before finishing fourth behind Feroce (NZ) (Super Seth) in the Group 1 Australian Guineas (1600m) in the Autumn, the son of former Coolmore shuttle stallion Calyx resumed with an emphatic four and a quarter length win over the Caulfield 1400m recently.
With the Chirs Waller trained Angel Capital (Harry Angel) starting the favourite off the back of his impressive first up win in the Listed Chautauqua Stakes (1200m) at Moonee Valley, punters certainly didn’t let Sepals get under their guard, with the gelding starting the second favourite and one of just three in the field under double figure odds.
With jockey Craig Williams fresh from Group 1 success the race prior on Sir Delius (GB), the leading jockey urged Sepals along from barrier 14 of 15 to settle in second behind noted leader Zarastro (I Am Invincible) who was always going to be suspect at the 1400m.
Racing against one of the biggest fields he has contested in the past, Angel Capital settled in back in the field with just two behind him including the fancied Zoustar mare Miss Roumbini.
When Sepals took the lead before the home turn, it was clear those back markers were going to need to get a wriggle on if they were to catch the leader.
Off and running, Sepals had the race won a long way from home, but those that backed Angel Capital were in disbelief as the son of Harry Angel struggled to find clear running as Miss Roumbini powered passed him to get into second.
Winning the race for the eighth time, jockey Craig Williams gave Sepals a fantastic ride to hold off the fast-finishing Miss Roumbini by three-quarters of a length with Australian Guineas winner Feroce working into third.
Eventually coming to the outside and charging home, Angel Capital finished fourth, a length and a quarter from the winner, giving the four-year-olds a one-three-four finish.
Recoding his sixth individual Group 1 winner as a trainer and first since coming back from Singapore, Brown was clearly very happy with the victory.
“Very happy. I'm really pleased for everyone,” Said Brown. “Jo and the kids and the staff, they're amazing. There's a lot of work that goes into them.
“He's a special horse and he deserves the attention that he gets.
When asked about the ride, Brown was initially unsure what was happening but noted why you put the best on in races like this.
“It was quite interesting,” said Brown.
“He came out and said I will just let him find his feet. That went out the window, but that's what he does, and that's why you put the best on. He's done a great job.”
Having trained Tarnipr Lane to run second in the race 28 years ago, Brown reflected on what it’s like to win a Group 1.
“It's tremendous. They are races I grew up with as a kid and that was a long time ago. To win it, it's very special. Any Group 1 is hard,” said brown.
“I was talking to a great mate yesterday, Nick Turnbull and he said it was 30 years ago that I had won a Group 1 and he thought he would win one sooner, and he hasn't and it's because they're so hard.”
Winning for race for the eighth time, Williams was clearly thankful to the connections.
“I had the right horse presented by the horse's trainer, Cliff Brown and all his staff,” said Williams.
“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.”
Sepals’ victory took his record to five wins from seven starts, with earnings of $905,990.
Bred by Greg Perry and sold through Vinery Stud’s Inglis Classic yearling sale draft, the pedigree of the son of Calyx understandably caught the eye of Brown who knew the family well.
Brown went to $80,000 to secure the first foal out of the Casino Prince mare What’s New (NZ), who he had trained during his time in Singapore to success on six occasions headed by dual Listed victories, with the mare subsequently crowned Champion 4YO & Older Female in Singapore in 2019.
What’s New has an unraced 3yo by Star Turn named Cashemcowboy, followed by a yearling colt also by Star Turn. Unfortunately, What’s New foaled a colt by Exceedance earlier this season that didn't survive.
Sepals is the ninth stakes winner worldwide, and first at Group 1 level for Kingman stallion Calyx, who shuttled to Coolmore Australia for just two seasons and unfortunately in May this year at the age of just nine was euthanised in Ireland after suffering an acute foot injury.
