TWO FROM TWO G1'S FOR WILLIAMS

Top hoop’s win on Sepals hands trainer Brown return to elite level

- Michael Lee

Champion jockey Craig Williams was the hero of the day at Caulfield on Sept 20 after hogging the two Group 1 races set down for decision, the Underwood Stakes and Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes.

The nine-time Melbourne champion hoop produced race-to-race masterful rides from wide alleys to deliver the goods on $11 favourite Sir Delius in the A$1 million Underwood Stakes (1,800m), followed by another peach of a ride aboard $17 second favourite Sepals in the A$1 million Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes (1,400m).

While Williams was posting only his second Underwood victory after the one registered in 2021 with Zaaki for Annabel Neasham, he was extending a much more prolific record in the Sir Rupert Clarke with Sepals being his eighth hurrah.

The first went as far back as 2005 with the David Hayes-trained Barely A Moment.

From a training achievement perspective, Sir Delius’ fighting win - after being headed by Buckaroo (Blake Shinn) in the home straight — provided leading Sydney duo Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott with their third Underwood Stakes win in four years.

But it is arguably Sepals’ win that would draw the loudest roar, both the length and breadth of Caulfield to Mornington, and stretching as far as 6,000km away in Singapore.