The Group 1 Underwood Stakes runs this Saturday at Caulfield in Melbourne, and the Underwood Stakes final field is out.
A small but stellar field has accepted to run in the 1800m middle-distance feature race, where Cosmic Crusader and Lindermann are battling for favouritism.
We have the Underwood Stakes field, barrier draw, and runner-by-runner form guide for Saturday’s big race.
Underwood Stakes Final Field & Barrier Draw
| 1. Lindermann (1) J: Blake Shinn 59kg 22×91 T: Chris Waller | |||
| Dual acceptor. Third-up today and won third-up previously. First-up struggled in the run home; 9th of 11 in the G1 Winx Stakes at Randwick on August 22 over 1400m, slow going 7 len behind Autumn Glow with 59kg at $51. Last start favourite; won by 1.75 len in the G2 Chelmsford Stakes at Randwick on September 5 over 1600m defeating Ceolwulf with 59kg at $2.70. Well placed. Will control the tempo and that makes him very hard to catch. | |||
| 2. Buckaroo (7) J: Mark Zahra 59kg x25x5 T: Chris Waller | |||
| Second-up. First-up after six months 5th of 12 in the G1 Memsie Stakes at this track on August 29 over 1400m, slow going 4 len behind Beiwacht with 59kg at $101. Previously second-up 5th of 7 in the G2 Peter Young Stakes at this track on March 14 over 1800m, 6 len behind Birdman with 59kg at $2.25. Loves this race and will be charging home. | |||
| 3. Attrition (6) J: Jamie Mott 59kg 80×90 T: Mitchell Freedman | |||
| Third-up today and placed third-up previously. First-up 9th of 11 in the G2 PB Lawrence Stakes at this track on August 15 over 1400m, slow going 6 len behind Cosmic Crusader with 59kg at $101. Last start 11th of 16 in a LR Heatherlie Stakes at this track on August 29 over 1700m, slow going 8 len behind Kingswood carrying 61kg at $71. This is too tough. | |||
| 4. Pinstriped (2) J: Lachlan Neindorf 59kg 5×442 T: Enver Jusufovic | |||
| At the latest run raced on the pace when 2nd of 9 in a So You Think at Sandown-Hillside on September 5 over 1500m, on a slow track; 1.75 len behind Evaporate with 57kg at $7.50. The start before that 4th of 11 in the G2 PB Lawrence Stakes at this track on August 15 over 1400m, slow going 2.25 len behind Cosmic Crusader with 59kg at $31. Going well but this is tough. | |||
| 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. | |||
| 6. Birdman (4) J: Ben Melham 59kg 521×6 T: Chris Waller | |||
| Second run back. First-up after three months eased back early on 6th of 12 in the G1 Memsie Stakes at this track on August 29 over 1400m, on a slow track; 4.5 len behind Beiwacht with 59kg at $61. Previously second-up won by 1.75 len in the G2 Blamey Stakes at Flemington on February 28 over 1600m defeating Enxuto with 57kg at $3.50. Lovely return and sets up well to 1800m here. | |||
| 7. Middle Earth (5) J: Ethan Brown 59kg 891×8 T: Ciaron Maher | |||
| Second-up. First-up after four months 8th of 16 in a LR Heatherlie Stakes at this track on August 29 over 1700m, slow going 5 len behind Kingswood with 61.5kg at $41. Previously second-up 9th of 14 in the G3 Hawkesbury Gold Cup on May 2 over 1600m, 2 len behind Churchill’s Choice with 59.5kg at $51. Risking. | |||
| 8. Kingswood (8) J: John Allen 59kg 125×1 T: Gavin Bedggood | |||
| Second run back. First-up after six months came from midfield and won by 0.8 len in a LR Heatherlie Stakes at this track on August 29 over 1700m on a rain affected track defeating Just Folk with 61kg at $21. Previously second-up 8th of 14 in the G2 Hill Stakes at Rosehill on October 11 over 1900m, 4 len behind Lindermann carrying 59kg at $7.50. Tough win fresh, this is tougher. | |||
| 9. Aeliana (6) Scratched: | |||
Winning the barrier draw stakes are Lindermann and Cosmic Crusader, who are rightfully the two favourites to win. Lindermann will push forward from the inside draw, and he could get a soft lead in front.
Cosmic Crusader will stalk the speed, and he’ll likely get a soft run one-out, one-back. That will be an ideal spot for the favourite, and he won the Underwood Stakes barrier draw.
Because the field is small, no runners are unsuited by the draw, as those drawn wide will likely drop back.
Underwood Stakes Form Guide 2026
His win at Randwick last start was a good effort, but that came against a different field. He was handed the win in front, and he is likely to be pressured at some point in the Underwood Stakes. He is also 0-2 at Caulfield, so he would need to turn his track form around to justify the odds.
| 1. Lindermann (1) J: Blake Shinn 59kg 22×91 T: Chris Waller | |||
| Dual acceptor. Third-up today and won third-up previously. First-up struggled in the run home; 9th of 11 in the G1 Winx Stakes at Randwick on August 22 over 1400m, slow going 7 len behind Autumn Glow with 59kg at $51. Last start favourite; won by 1.75 len in the G2 Chelmsford Stakes at Randwick on September 5 over 1600m defeating Ceolwulf with 59kg at $2.70. Well placed. Will control the tempo and that makes him very hard to catch. | |||
The odds for Buckaroo are worth entertaining, and he doesn’t need to improve many lengths to win this race. He went to the line tamely last start, but we have already seen that form hold up well at the top level, and he runs his best races in the spring. Look for him to settle midfield and close off stylishly.
| 2. Buckaroo (7) J: Mark Zahra 59kg x25x5 T: Chris Waller | |||
| Second-up. First-up after six months 5th of 12 in the G1 Memsie Stakes at this track on August 29 over 1400m, slow going 4 len behind Beiwacht with 59kg at $101. Previously second-up 5th of 7 in the G2 Peter Young Stakes at this track on March 14 over 1800m, 6 len behind Birdman with 59kg at $2.25. Loves this race and will be charging home. | |||
He’s paying massive odds, and our Underwood Stakes form guide 2026 has no interest in including him in picks. His last four runs have been close to awful, and we don’t know why he’s lining up against such a tough field when he’s trying to get his confidence levels back up.
| 3. Attrition (6) J: Jamie Mott 59kg 80×90 T: Mitchell Freedman | |||
| Third-up today and placed third-up previously. First-up 9th of 11 in the G2 PB Lawrence Stakes at this track on August 15 over 1400m, slow going 6 len behind Cosmic Crusader with 59kg at $101. Last start 11th of 16 in a LR Heatherlie Stakes at this track on August 29 over 1700m, slow going 8 len behind Kingswood carrying 61kg at $71. This is too tough. | |||
There is nothing wrong with his form this preparation, including a second placing last start. That was a tidy effort, but it didn’t come at the top level, and although he’s a Group 1 winner, those days might be past him. He’ll have some interest on race day, but the odds are accurate.
| 4. Pinstriped (2) J: Lachlan Neindorf 59kg 5×442 T: Enver Jusufovic | |||
| At the latest run raced on the pace when 2nd of 9 in a So You Think at Sandown-Hillside on September 5 over 1500m, on a slow track; 1.75 len behind Evaporate with 57kg at $7.50. The start before that 4th of 11 in the G2 PB Lawrence Stakes at this track on August 15 over 1400m, slow going 2.25 len behind Cosmic Crusader with 59kg at $31. Going well but this is tough. | |||
The Underwood Stakes final field features Cosmic Crusader, who could have easily been unbeaten this campaign. His first two wins were excellent before being caught a touch wide last start, and he’s good enough to improve on that run. Barrier 3 should see him land in the perfect spot, and with William Pike riding well this season, there aren’t too many negatives with the favourite.
| 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. | |||
He might be a touch short in the betting, but there is good money coming for him. His run for sixth fresh-up was a tidy effort, and when Chris Waller-trained runners are backed to win, it pays to take note. If he shortens to around $5 on race day, he’s a runner that can’t be left out of Underwood Stakes predictions.
| 6. Birdman (4) J: Ben Melham 59kg 521×6 T: Chris Waller | |||
| Second run back. First-up after three months eased back early on 6th of 12 in the G1 Memsie Stakes at this track on August 29 over 1400m, on a slow track; 4.5 len behind Beiwacht with 59kg at $61. Previously second-up won by 1.75 len in the G2 Blamey Stakes at Flemington on February 28 over 1600m defeating Enxuto with 57kg at $3.50. Lovely return and sets up well to 1800m here. | |||
The Ciaron Maher-trained stayer is looking for more distance, and he’ll use this run as a warm-up for races later in the spring. Punters should expect to see him drift to the back of the field before finding the line well.
| 7. Middle Earth (5) J: Ethan Brown 59kg 891×8 T: Ciaron Maher | |||
| Second-up. First-up after four months 8th of 16 in a LR Heatherlie Stakes at this track on August 29 over 1700m, slow going 5 len behind Kingswood with 61.5kg at $41. Previously second-up 9th of 14 in the G3 Hawkesbury Gold Cup on May 2 over 1600m, 2 len behind Churchill’s Choice with 59.5kg at $51. Risking. | |||
Kingswood is an interesting runner. His best form comes over this distance, and he hit the ground running this preparation with a big win at Caulfield. That win is tough to get out of our minds, but is he a genuine Group 1 performer? That’s the question, so he’s a risky bet, but the odds are appealing.
| 8. Kingswood (8) J: John Allen 59kg 125×1 T: Gavin Bedggood | |||
| Second run back. First-up after six months came from midfield and won by 0.8 len in a LR Heatherlie Stakes at this track on August 29 over 1700m on a rain affected track defeating Just Folk with 61kg at $21. Previously second-up 8th of 14 in the G2 Hill Stakes at Rosehill on October 11 over 1900m, 4 len behind Lindermann carrying 59kg at $7.50. Tough win fresh, this is tougher. | |||
| 9. Aeliana (6) Scratched: | |||