2019 Underwood Stakes Day Preview

Pierrocity is rock-hard fit and will appreciate a drop in class into the first on Underwood Stakes Day. The five-year-old daughter of Pierro has been a quality performer this time and recorded consecutive victories at Ladbrokes Park, before a credible fifth placing in Listed company at Morphettville last time out. Luke Currie has options from the rails draw and the mare does look a touch of overs.

1 Unit E/W Pierrocity

Algadon Miss has been freshened since her last appearance at The Valley in August, but her form prior was simply outstanding, and she looms as a live chance at a price on Underwood Stakes Day ($8 at publish). The Equiano mare has continued to improve with every start this time, but her last two starts for wins have been particularly impressive and a repeat of either would see her hard to beat here.

1 Unit E/W Algadon Miss

Queensland raider Order Again has been the stable star for Brian Smith for several seasons and gets his chance in Victorian company for the first time on Saturday. The Iffraaj gelding won the Group 3 Lord Mayors Cup most notably in winter and resumed this time for a credible fifth placing in a Saturday handicap at Doomben. He’s sure to enjoy good improvement off that effort and will appreciate the conditions of this race.

1 Unit E/W Order Again

Mahamedeis produced a career-best performance to finish second behind Homesman in the Group 2 Feehan Stakes and is over the odds to win the third on Underwood Stakes Day. The Nick Ryan-trained gelding has continued to improve with each effort his time and is drawn to receive a nice run in transit on Sunday from barrier 3. He’s rock-hard fit and as long as he handles the weight, there’s no reason why he can’t fight out the finish again.

1 Unit E/W Mahamedeis

Dalasan is yet to run a bad race and looms as a fitting favourite for the Caulfield Guineas Prelude. The South Australian raider beat the likes of Scales Of Justice in the Group 3 Spring Stakes first-up before winning the Group 2 Danehill Stakes at HQ a fortnight ago. He didn’t look at all comfortable in that race but still won, and he will relish the small rise in trip and a return to racing with a bend.

4 Units Dalasan

The field for this year’s Thousand Guineas Prelude is talent-rich and open from a betting perspective, and the resulting Group 1 contest should be outstanding.

She’s been charged with carrying topweight, but I’ll be keen to have something each-way on the Anthony Freedman-trained Lyre at around the $9 mark. Lyre won the Group 1 Ladbrokes Blue Diamond most notably during her two-year-old season and has improved nicely for two starts this time, including a close-up second behind William Thomas last week. Third-up and a return to fillies’ company looks perfect.

2 Units E/W Lyre

Homesman resumed for a dominant win in the Group 2 Feehan Stakes and will only be better second-up and out to 1800m in the Underwood Stakes 2019. The talented import has been a strong and consistent performer for Macedon Lodge since arriving in Australia and won this race, at this point of his preparation in 2018. He has been set for some lofty targets this time and can record another Group 1 win. He is my best bet of the day.

5 Units Homesman

The Testa Rossa Stakes is building as one of the better contests on 2019 Underwood Stakes Day and there is a case to be made for more than half of the capacity field.

Zoustyle was thoroughly outclassed when he suffered his first career defeat in the Concorde Stakes, but he’s likely to enjoy good improvement from the effort and can bounce back in the Testa Rossa Stakes. The Zoustar gelding had one start in winter; a dominant win over a classy field at Doomben, and he has drawn ideally into this field in barrier 4, with Brett Prebble confirmed to ride.

Spirit Of Valor has improved for his two starts this time and is over the odds to salute in this race ($21 at publish). The former Aidan O’Brien-trained stallion was only fair to the line when fifth in the Listed Carlyon Stakes first-up but was far better when third behind The Inevitable and Deprive last time out.

2 Units Zoustyle

0.5 Units E/W Spirit Of Valor

Tarwin finished down the order in Listed company at HQ first-up but mustered an eye-catching turn of foot in the straight and will enjoy good improvement from the hit-out. The four-year-old son of Americain has otherwise record three wins and a close-up second from only five career starts and with even luck from the potentially awkward barrier 13, he can fight back into the winner’s stall.

2 Units Tarwin