Last year’s runner up Mr Sneaky is creeping back into calculations for the 2018 Group 1 $500,000 Ladbrokes Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield on Saturday.

Mr Sneaky, above, is creeping into contentions for the Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes at Caulfield. Photo by Ultimate Racing Photos.

Mr Sneaky, above, is creeping into contentions for the Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes at Caulfield. Photo by Ultimate Racing Photos.

Mr Sneaky had to settle for the runner’s up cheque twelve months ago when his stablemate Santa Ana Lane stormed home to collect the major prize.

The Anthony Freedman trained Mr Sneaky has been allocated 53kg, 1kg more than he carried last year, even though the five year old hasn’t visited the winner’s stall from eight starts since.

Mr Sneaky has been unplaced twice at Group 1 level with his best effort during the last twelve months being a second to Thronum in the Group 2 $200,000 Carlton Draught Australia Stakes (1200m) at The Valley at the beginning of the 2018 Melbourne Autumn Carnival.

Stable foreman Sam Freedman believes that Mr Sneaky is going just as good as he was last year and expects him to be amongst the placegetters again.

“I think he’s going into the race in as good a form as he was in last year,” Sam Freedman told AAP.

“It’s probably a stronger race but I think he’s going to be competitive like he always is.”

Sam Freedman is suggesting the firm track at The Valley last start on September 8 contributed to Mr Sneaky’s lacklustre performance when fourth in the Listed $120,000 Bendigo Bank Stakes (1200m) which followed on from his first up third to Faatinah in the Listed $120,000 Carlyon Stakes (1000m) at The Valley on August 25.

“The track was probably a little bit firm for him and just second-up syndrome, he was just a little bit flat when he came out on him last start,” Sam Freedman said.

“But he’s come through it OK.

“He was a little bit jarry after the run but he’ll be tip-top for the weekend and hopefully he can produce a similar effort to last year.

English raider Jungle Cat from the Godolphin stable prepared by Charlie Appleby has been given the top weight of 58kg and will be having his first Australian start after winning the Group 1 US$1m Al Quoz Sprint (1200m) at Meydan in Dubai on March 31.

Godolphin’s Australian trainer James Cummings has nominated last start winners Home Of The Brave and Osborne Bulls who are sharing the second line of betting for the Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes at $5 with Ladbrokes.com.au, just ahead off Jungle Cat $8.

Victoria’s leading trainer Darren Weir has five horses nominated for the Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes with the $4.50 early favourite Land Of Plenty leading the team ahead of Peaceful State ($10), Cliff’s Edge ($26), Danon Liberty ($31) and Ozi Choice ($61).

Nominations for the Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes (1400m)

# Last 10 Horse Sex Age Trainer Ballot Weight Hcp Rating
1 22106x111x JUNGLE CAT (IRE) H 7 Charlie Appleby 1 58kg 112
2 x1x1230x21 HOME OF THE BRAVE (IRE) G 7 James Cummings 2 57kg 110
3 x23723x510 SHOWTIME H 4 Michael, Wayne & John Hawkes 3 56.5kg 109
4 41x43215x1 INVINCIBELLA M 5 Chris Waller 4 53.5kg 107
5 x222415x55 OREGON’S DAY M 5 Mick Price 5 53kg 106
6 21x13121x1 OSBORNE BULLS G 5 James Cummings 6 55kg 106
7 1131271232 WIDGEE TURF G 5 Patrick Payne 7 54.5kg 105
8 2511131902 LITE’N IN MY VEINS G 6 Ciaron Maher & David Eustace 8 54.5kg 105
9 4x51311x21 LAND OF PLENTY H 5 Darren Weir 9 54kg 104
10 4270x0172x SOVEREIGN NATION G 6 David & B Hayes & T Dabernig 10 54kg 104
11 1223113x3x HELLOVA STREET G 8 Scott Brunton 11 54kg 104
12 0x28693x34 MR SNEAKY G 5 Anthony Freedman 12 53kg 102
13 111329×102 DOLLAR FOR DOLLAR G 6 Tony McEvoy 13 53kg 102
14 821x0918x4 FASTNET TEMPEST (IRE) G 6 David & B Hayes & T Dabernig 14 53kg 102
15 x1720110x2 PEACEFUL STATE H 4 Darren Weir 15 52kg 100
16 7010033104 MISS GUNPOWDER M 6 David & B Hayes & T Dabernig 16 52kg 100
17 x533x98x06 DANON LIBERTY (JPN) H 7 Darren Weir 17 52kg 100
18 x127158x07 CLIFF’S EDGE H 4 Darren Weir 18 52kg 97
19 39x15233x6 HOLY SNOW H 4 Mick Price 19 52kg 97
20 70505x37x1 ELLICAZOOM M 5 David & B Hayes & T Dabernig 20 52kg 97
21 18×5812459 OZI CHOICE G 6 Darren Weir 21 52kg 97
22 118x1214x3 WAGING WAR G 5 Leon Macdonald & Andrew Gluyas 22 52kg 92
23 0x41500x25 TULIP M 4 David & B Hayes & T Dabernig 23 52kg 91
24 5580×91013 AL PASSEM G 4 Ken Keys 24 52kg 85

About The Author

Mark Mazzaglia

Mark is a passionate journalist with a life-time involvement in the racing industry. He spent many years as an analyst and form expert at the Courier Mail and also has hands-on experience working with some of Queensland’s top trainers.