We’re back to Caulfield this Saturday, September 19th for a ten-race program headlined by two Group 1 feature races, and here we have our expert 2026 Underwood Stakes Day preview and tips.
Underwood Stakes Day always shapes as one of the Melbourne Spring Carnival’s key form programs, with both the Underwood and the Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes ably supported by races like the Thousand Guineas Prelude, the Caulfield Guineas Prelude, and the Naturalism Stakes.
You can find my selections for all ten races in my complete Caulfield best bets below.
POLITELY DUN (9) can continue his rise through the grades at Caulfield this week.
He was luckless but still finished a credible fourth when resuming this time at Flemington, while he mustered a strong turn of foot to run on from the tail of the field and win over this route last time out.
With further improvement, he gets the right conditions again this week and looks a touch of overs again at around the $11 mark (at publish).
| 2. Politely Dun (9) J: Damien Thornton 61kg 49×41 T: Danny O’brien | |||
| Third-up today and placed third-up in the past. First-up 4th of 14 in a Bm74 at Flemington on August 1 over 1410m, 1.75 len behind Itazura carrying 58.5kg at $41. Second run from a spell ran on strongly from last on the turn and won by 1.0 len in a Bm78 at this track on August 29 over 1800m on a soft track defeating Jenni Multabella with 56.5kg at $19. Will need pace on but can win again. | |||
ICY YOU (1) takes winning form and upside into Race 2 on Underwood Stakes Day.
The Pinatubo gelding has only made two appearances since debuting, finishing second over a mile at Pakenham before breaking through in utterly dominant fashion at Echuca last time out.
Obviously, this is a substantial rise in class, but the manner of his latest victory was simply too good to ignore, and he can go on with it.
| 3. Icy You (1) J: Craig Newitt 59kg 21 T: Trent Busuttin & Natalie Young | |||
| Had two starts to date. At debut, 2nd of 10 in a Mdn-Sw at Pakenham Synthetic on August 16 over 1600m, 1.3 len behind Askmumaskdad with 57kg at $6. Last start favourite; came from midfield and scored a big 5 len win in a Mdn-Sw at Echuca on August 30 over 1600m in soft going defeating Riverlea Prince carrying 57kg at $1.80. Promising and can win again. | |||
PALLATON (2) has his first start for the Begg yard on Underwood Stakes Day.
Pallaton hasn’t been seen at the races since April, but he owned some fine performances last time in, winning the Zeditave Stakes over 1200m here most notably.
Having had the benefit of a couple of recent trials, he’s a first up winning previously and improves noticeably on a track rated in the Good range.
| 6. Pallaton (2) J: Jordan Childs 56kg 1807x T: Grahame Begg | |||
| Entire returning from a spell and has won previously when first up. Finished off last campaign seventh of 9 at Randwick in the G2 Arrowfield April 11 over 1200m, 5 len behind Tempted with 56.5kg at $71. When resuming last campaign fourth in a small field at this track in the G2 Rubiton February 7 over 1100m, 3 len behind Oak Hill with 54kg at $3. Wary for new yard, watch the market. | |||
With a case to be made for plenty of them, I thought that TOLAGA BAY (11) represented each way value in Thousand Guineas Prelude betting ($7.50 at publish).
Tolaga Bay debuted with a fine performance to win over 1200m at Ballarat back in February and was immediately put away, while she picked up where she left off when running on to win at Sandown earlier this month.
She faces another rise in class into the Thousand Guineas Prelude but clearly, she has plenty of ability and upside, and I am happy to stick with her until she gives me a reason not to.
| 8. Tolaga Bay (11) J: Michael Dee 56kg 1×1 T: Mark Walker | |||
| Puts an unbeaten record on the line. Returned last time out tracked the speed and boxed on steadily; won by a neck in a 3yo Bm64 at Sandown-Hillside on September 2 over 1300m on a rain affected track defeating Somethings Burnin’ carrying 57.5kg at $4.20. Bit lucky to win last time but she’s hard to knock and can improve again. | |||
BLIND RAISE (9) has opened a justifiable favourite in Caulfield Guineas betting, in my opinion.
In just four trips to the races so far, Blind Raise has stamped himself as one to follow by winning three times, including both the Listed Anzac Day Stakes, and the McKenzie Stakes when resuming this time.
Having won his only other second up target so far, he strips fitter, will relish getting an extra furlong at this point of his preparation, and Blake Shinn retains the ride after winning on the horse last time.
| 3. Blind Raise (9) J: Blake Shinn 57kg 119×1 T: Trent Busuttin & Natalie Young | |||
| Second-up. First-up after three months favourite; raced right near the speed and boxed on; won by 1.75 len in the LR Mitchell McKenzie Stakes at Sandown-Hillside on September 5 over 1300m on a rain affected track defeating Wolf Gap carrying 57.5kg at $3. Previously second-up favourite; won by 2 len in the LR ANZAC Day Stakes at Flemington on April 25 over 1400m defeating Profligate carrying 59kg at $2.15. Got favours fresh but should get them again – hard to run down. | |||
I’m keen to give POINT BARROW (11) another chance second up in the How Now Stakes field.
Point Barrow has been a great horse for the Freedman yard since debuting, winning half of her ten career starts and placing a further two times, while she wasn’t out of her depth in Group 1 company a couple of times in the autumn.
I thought her first run in unideal conditions in the Moir Stakes can be forgiven, and with natural improvement back into Group 3 mares’ company, she could have a big impact this week.
| 3. Point Barrow (10) J: Mark Zahra 57kg 515×0 T: Anthony & Sam Freedman | |||
| Second run back. First-up after four months 11th of 13 in the G1 Moir Stakes at Sandown-Hillside on September 5 over 1000m, slow going 5 len behind My Gladiola carrying 56.5kg at $16. Previously second-up won by 1.0 len in the G3 Don Casboult Classic (Typhoon Tracy Stakes) at this track on March 21 over 1200m defeating Torsheen with 58.5kg at $2.80. Couldn’t get warm fresh, suited this trip and will be charging late. | |||
COSMIC CRUSADER (3) finds a perfect Group 1 target in Saturday’s Underwood Stakes.
Having won the Northerly Stakes in his native Perth back in December, Cosmic Crusader proved too strong for his rivals in both the Bletchingly and the PB Lawrence when resuming this time before finishing third behind an outstanding Beiwacht in the Memsie last time.
In peak order this week, out to a genuine trip and with William Pike in town to ride, he rates as a key chance once again.
| 5. Cosmic Crusader (3) J: William Pike 59kg 2×113 T: Andrea Leek | |||
| Racing well recently. Last start 3rd of 12 in the G1 Memsie Stakes at this track on August 29 over 1400m, slow going 3.5 len behind Beiwacht with 59kg at $3.30. The start before that favourite; came from midfield and won by 0.8 len in the G2 PB Lawrence Stakes at this track on August 15 over 1400m on a rain affected track defeating Private Eye with 59kg at $2.50. Well placed. Can settle much closer this time and prove very hard to beat. | |||
Caulfield Cup ballot-exemption goes on the line when a capacity Naturalism Stakes field steps out at Caulfield on Saturday, and I think it will be claimed by ZAHRANN (7).
Zahrann kicked off his career over in Ireland and the UK, picking off some nice races and finding form around some of the world’s best stayers.
While yet to win in three appearances since arriving in Australia, he returned to action in the Heatherlie Stakes last month and worked home well to finish fourth, beaten a little over a length and a half.
With natural improvement, getting out in trip and dropping in the weights, he looks to get plenty of ticks this week.
| 14. Zahrann (7) J: Ethan Brown 55kg x53x4 T: Ciaron Maher | |||
| Second-up. First-up after three months 4th of 16 in a LR Heatherlie Stakes at this track on August 29 over 1700m, on a slow track; 1.75 len behind Kingswood with 57kg at $11. Previously second-up 3rd of 14 in a Bm100 at Flemington on June 6 over 2000m, on heavy track; 1.1 len behind Ghetto Supastar with 57kg at $4.60. Lovely return and sets up well here. | |||
This is an outstanding and wide-open edition of the Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes and with a case to be made for many of them, I’m going to have a couple of bets.
LADY SHEANDOAH (1) is a multiple Group 1 winner and strips fitter for a nice performance behind Autumn Glow and Sheza Alibi in the Winx Stakes when resuming.
She was scratched from last week’s Rosehill program to instead run here, and with options in from the rails draw, I think she’ll get her chance.
One at huge Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes odds that I am also keen to be with on an each way basis is PLANET RED (10) ($23 at publish).
Planet Red has always boasted above average ability and has fought out the finish of Group 1 feature races on more than one occasion; finishing second in both the Caulfield and Australian Guineas during his three-year-old season.
He clearly needed his first-up run in the Memsie Stakes last month to tune up, but with natural improvement and dropping in the weights this week, he’s one that I think can run a cheeky race.
| 6. Lady Shenandoah (1) J: Craig Williams 56kg 342×4 T: Chris Waller | |||
| Dual acceptor. Second run back. First-up after four months 4th of 11 in the G1 Winx Stakes at Randwick on August 22 over 1400m, on a slow track; 4.5 len behind Autumn Glow with 57kg at $19. Previously second-up 3rd of 10 in the G1 Canterbury Stakes at Randwick on March 7 over 1300m, 1.2 len behind Joliestar carrying 57kg at $4.20. Very good mare through the A1 form, any luck and she goes close. | |||
| 10. Planet Red (10) J: Michael Dee 53.5kg 226×7 T: Mick Price & Michael Kent Jnr | |||
| Second-up. First-up after five months sat behind the speed prior to fading 7th of 12 in the G1 Memsie Stakes at this track on August 29 over 1400m, on a slow track; 4.5 len behind Beiwacht carrying 58.5kg at $51. Previously second-up 2nd of 10 in the G1 Australian Guineas at Flemington on February 28 over 1600m, 0.5 len behind Observer carrying 57kg at $7. Solid return, could sneak a place. | |||
STEALTH OF NIGHT (15) is third up and primed to strike in the last on Underwood Stakes Day.
The Night Of Thunder mare finished down the order, though not far away from the winner when resuming over 1100m here back in July, but she turned in a vastly improved performance to only just miss over this route last time out.
With further improvement this week, and luck in the run from a wide alley, this looks a great opportunity for her to convert.
| 11. Stealth Of Night (15) J: Blake Shinn 55.5kg 23×82 T: Ben, Will & Jd Hayes | |||
| Dual acceptor. Third-up today and won third-up previously. Resuming 8th of 12 in a Bm78 at this track on July 11 over 1100m, on a slow track; 2.5 len behind Markdel carrying 58.5kg at $6.50. Second run from a spell set the pace for much of the race 2nd of 12 in a F&M Bm78 at this track on August 29 over 1400m, slow going 0.5 len behind Puglia carrying 58.5kg at $4.80. Ready to peak now and can give a sight. | |||