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Underwood Stakes day: Group 1 preview and tips

24th September, 2015
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(AAP Image/Tracey Nearmy)
Expert
24th September, 2015
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Footy finals are almost finished, and spring racing is well and truly in the air. The Caulfield card is the best we’ve seen this season, by quite a margin, with the Underwood Stakes and Rupert Clarke Stakes the headline acts of the program.

Fawkner is the proven champion. He’s a dual Group 1 winner at the track, has drawn a cosy inside alley to get the run of the race, and will be awfully hard to topple.

Contributor was the sensation of the Sydney autumn, but was a first-up flop in the Feehan behind The Cleaner when he was plain through the line. His second-up record isn’t as good as his first-up stats, so he’s got it in front of him to turn his form around.

The Cleaner has come back as well as ever, and will give them all something to catch. He was just worn down by Mourinho first-up in the Lawrence, but bounced right back to defy all rivals in the Feehan in an impressive display. He’s a player here.

Mourinho was, along with Contributor, the disappointment of the Feehan, but has a winning record over 1800 metres at Caulfield, thanks to his victory over Happy Trails in the St George back in the autumn. He’s drawn to get his favoured box seat position.

Weary is racing well without winning this campaign, continuing to do his best work late and storming home from the tail. While he is mixing it with the best, winning these races does seem to be a bit beyond him, and he might need to be targeted towards easier assignments.

The new New Zealand four-year-olds, Mongolian Khan and Volkstok’n’barrell, can have a say. The former will be better for his good first-up run in the Makybe Diva, while the latter didn’t get his chance in the same race, and is capable of bouncing right back.

Sertorius has had an interrupted prep, and is a month between runs into the Underwood. He’s a good second-up horse, but this is a different kettle of fish. Dandino might well have won the Makybe Diva if he had clear running, and will be sure to be running on.

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Dibayani is ticking over pleasingly as he heads towards the Caulfield Cup. Magicool doesn’t look cut out for WFA racing at this stage, particularly over distances short of 2000 metres. Hi World has produced two even runs, in the Memsie and the Makybe Diva, but lacks the touch of class required at this level.

Selections
1. Fawkner
2.The Cleaner
3.Dandino
4.Mongolian Khan

The Rupert Clarke Stakes has assembled a deep field in what should be a memorable edition of the race.

Disposition is the market-elect, a smart and progressive horse that is yet to run a bad race in his career. He returned from a spell in fine style with a win for new trainers the Freedman brothers, and Damien Oliver will get every chance to steer him home from barrier three.

Under the Louvre has been flying over the last 12 months, with two wins and five placings from eight starts in that time, including a Group 1 second and third. No horse finishes harder from the back of the field than he does, and his fast finish in the Bobbie Lewis had ‘Rupert Clarke winner’ written all over it.

Nothing from the Bobbie Lewis is going to finish in front of Under the Louvre, so you can rule out Lucky Hussler, Amorino, Rich Enuff and Gregers.

The Let’s Elope for the mares is another key form reference, and winner Amicus is the horse to follow out of it. Caulfield is a track she always races well at, being a Group 1 winner there to boot. Likely to go back from a wide gate, watch for her to be making a run with Under the Louvre.

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Cosmic Endeavour is coming from the same race, but isn’t well weighted as a mare in this field.

Charmed Harmony is the 1400-metre specialist of the field, stringing together four wins in a row over the distance coming in. He’s racing against a bit more cream this time though, and is unlikely to get his own way in front as he has been doing.

Stratum Star is a serious racehorse, and comes in after a freshen, last seen running the closest of thirds in the Memsie Stakes behind Boban.

Dropping significantly in weight coming back to a handicap after almost winning at Group 1 WFA is usually a sound reason for thinking a horse will run well, and Stratum Star is no exception. He’s one of the three main chances in the race.

Strawberry Boy is an honest horse that is never far away, and he can be counted on to run well. Fast N Rocking has been running well under big weights, but 1400 metres is absolutely as far as he wants it, if that. This may not be his race, but he’ll be winning something this spring.

Abidewithme deserves respect too, making a winning return in weaker grade, but she’s run into a tough race here, and an even tougher barrier.

This should be a truly run affair, setting the race up for every runner to have their chance.

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Selections
1. Under the Louvre
2. Stratum Star
3. Disposition
4. Amicus

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