The race towards the Caulfield Cup steps up a notch at the track this weekend with some of the potential runners in that lining-up in a quality Group 1, and Ladbrokes have our expert 2026 Underwood Stakes tips, predictions and best bets right here.
The Group 1 $1 million Underwood Stakes (1800m) shapes as one of the key early‑spring yardsticks, and punters are lining up to play into a cracking edition of the WFA feature.
This year’s market is headed by star WA expat Cosmic Crusader, the fit horse in the small field and already a proven Group 1 winner at the trip. His Melbourne form has been rock‑solid all prep, and he looks perfectly placed to bounce back up to 1800m.
Chris Waller provides the biggest threat with Lindermann, fresh off a Chelmsford Stakes defense and right at home over a staying journey.
The stable also rolls out Birdman — a Cox Plate hopeful who’ll relish second‑up conditions — plus 2024 champ Buckaroo as a genuine each‑way contender.
Add in Heatherlie winner Kingswood as a potentially overlooked roughie and you’ve got a deep, high‑quality Underwood Stakes despite the small field.
Read on for our expert Underwood Stakes 2026 predictions and Same Race Multi selections!
2026 Underwood Stakes Tips
Don’t overthink it. COSMIC CRUSADER (5) is deserving favourite in the Underwood and, despite the money coming for Lindermann, this guy is the proven Caulfield performer and fit horse in the field.
The Kiwi-bred Maurice gelding has been a revelation for Pakenham-based Andrea Leek this prep and all three of his runs here at the track have been excellent.
The WA expat is a proven Group 1 horse over the 1800m having narrowly denied his rivals back in Perth’s Northerly Stakes last December and has gone from strength-to-strength since his move to Melbourne.
Fresh he easily put them to bed with a 2.5 length Group 3 Bletchingly win in late July before proving himself with a strong Group 2 PB Lawrence victory over Private Eye and Evaporate.
Stuck to 1400m for the Group 1 Memsie at his latest and was far from disgraced crossing three lengths third to runaway winner Beiwacht.
Fourth-up now he’ll be peaking, will appreciate the 1800m at this stage of his campaign and, in a small field with the flying Willie Pike sticking in the saddle, he’ll take some beating.
Got too far back last time but from gate three now he’ll land closer and stay in touch without as much to do the closing stages.
Wins.
| 5. Cosmic Crusader (3) 59kg2×113 |
LINDERMANN (1) shapes as the key each‑way danger in this year’s Underwood for mine, and he brings exactly the right profile to spoil the favourite’s party despite being unplaced in both his previous Caulfield assignments.
The Chris Waller-trained seven‑year‑old Lonhro gelding is flying this prep: he copped a brutal tempo first‑up in the Winx Stakes, then bounced straight back to his trademark front‑running best when controlling and winning the Group 2 Chelmsford Stakes second‑up in a successful title defence.
Third‑up is historically his sweet spot, he gets a dry track, and the rise to 1800m is perfect.
From a soft draw, Blake Shinn should roll straight to the front and dictate — and when Lindermann gets his own rhythm, he’s notoriously hard to run down.
Proven at WFA, proven up to 2000m, and suited to the Melbourne conditions, he’s the one the favourite must catch.
Expected leader, perfectly placed, and ready to give a huge sight at value.
| 1. Lindermann (1) 59kg22×91 |
Is KINGSWOOD (8) up to Group 1 company down under? We’ll find out on Saturday afternoon but I’m happy to bet he can run in the money here.
It’s a wide open and diminutive field and this Gavin Bedggood-trained entire, at $15 at time of publish, can outrun his price for mine.
The Roaring Lion seven-year-old has had four Caulfield runs for two victories and the 1800m is right within his wheelhouse.
He won at the highest level across the Tasman last December at big odds in the Zabeel Classic (2000m) at Ellerslie before crossing second at Te Rapa behind Legarto in the Herbie Dyke and fifth to the same runner in the Bonecrusher, so his Group 1 credentials in New Zealand are strong.
Won fresh here at Caulfield on August 29 at blowout odds as a 20/1 roughie in the Listed Heartherlie over 1700m putting three-quarters of a length on Just Folk when giving all the weight away.
He showed true grit with 61kg from the outside alley (16) making up ground from midfield and will relish a return to WFA here in a compact field from a better barrier.
This is an acid test for sure against good horses, but a Top 3 run is definitely not out of the equation.
Check out all my top Saturday roughie tips now over at Hendo’s Hopefuls!
| 8. Kingswood (8) 59kg125×1 |
2026 Underwood Stakes Same Race Multi Selections
- To Win – No. 5 Cosmic Crusader
- Top 3 – No. 1 Lindermann
- Top 4 – No. 8 Kingswood
COSMIC CRUSADER (3) is the proven Caulfield performer and the fit horse in the race, fourth‑up, perfectly drawn, and ready to peak stepping to 1800m — he simply wins.
LINDERMANN (1) should roll straight to the front third‑up, gets ideal 1800m conditions, and with his Chelmsford win confirming he’s flying, he looks a rock‑solid Top 3 anchor in the Underwood.
KINGSWOOD (8) brings strong NZ Group 1 credentials, a big fresh Caulfield win and a perfect 1800m profile, making him a gritty, value‑packed Top 4 play in the Underwood.
| 5. Cosmic Crusader (3) 59kg2×113 | ||
| 8. Kingswood (8) 59kg125×1 | ||
| 1. Lindermann (1) 59kg22×91 |
Underwood Stakes 2026 Odds
Underwood Stakes 2026 Results
| 6. Birdman (4) 59kg521×6 | |||
| 5. Cosmic Crusader (3) 59kg2×113 | |||
| 3. Attrition (6) 59kg80×90 | |||
| 8. Kingswood (8) 59kg125×1 | |||
| 2. Buckaroo (7) 59kgx25x5 | |||
| 4. Pinstriped (2) 59kg5×442 | |||
| 7. Middle Earth (5) 59kg891×8 | |||
| 1. Lindermann (1) 59kg22×91 | |||
| 9. Aeliana (6)SCRATCHED: | |||
Underwood Stakes FAQs
The Underwood Stakes is a $1 million Group 1 weight‑for‑age race run over 1800m at Caulfield during the Melbourne Spring Racing Carnival. It’s a key early‑spring form guide for punters assessing Ladbrokes Cox Plate‑bound horses.
The 2026 edition takes place on Saturday the 19th of September during Caulfield’s feature spring meeting, sharing the card with another elite Group 1. It is scheduled to run as Caulfield Race 7 at 3:35pm (AEST) on the 10-event card.
The race is contested over 1800 metres, a trip that rewards tactical speed, fitness and genuine WFA strength.
The Underwood Stakes is run at Caulfield Racecourse in Melbourne, traditionally one of the key middle‑distance venues of the spring.
The 2025 Underwood Stakes was won by five-year-old Frankel horse Sir Delius at $2.10 favouritism for trainers Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott with jockey Craig Williams aboard on 59kg from barrier 10 to win by 0.46 lengths on a Good (3) track in a time of 1:49.12.
Early Underwood Stakes betting at Ladbrokes is headed by Cosmic Crusader, the fit horse in the small field and a proven Group 1 winner at the trip.
Ladbrokes offers fixed odds, exotics, Same Race Multis and live betting options on the Underwood Stakes. Following market movers, speed maps and WFA form is key.
Proven 1600–2000m form, strong second‑up records, tactical gate speed, and fitness at WFA are major factors. Horses on Cox Plate paths often peak here.
Of the trainers with a runner in the 2026 Underwood Stakes field, Chris Waller has been a major force in recent years, including Buckaroo’s 2024 win, and again saddles multiple runners in 2026.
Absolutely. The Underwood regularly shapes Cox Plate markets, with winners and placegetters often progressing to the Australasian weight-for-age classic as leading chances.