Underwood Stakes day 2014 Tips – Caulfield Racecourse

Top class racing is back at Caulfield this Saturday, highlighted by the $400,000 Group l Hyland Race Colours Underwood Stakes (1800m). A crack field has been assembled, including The Offer, Silent Achiever, and Happy Trails.

A Caulfield Cup start will be ensured for the winner of the $150,000 Group lll Jack London Naturalism Stakes (2000m). The 2013 edition was run at a farcical tempo set by Bossy on Mr O’Ceirin and he duly saluted. We hope that scenario doesn’t unfold again this Saturday.

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Race One (12:30pm) : Pancare Foundation Plate 1000m:

Back Me: I think the punters can start off on the right note thanks to Zeletto, who absolutely toyed with them off a freshen up a couple of weeks back at Sportingbet Park, sitting wide with no cover yet went straight past them close to home like a good horse and ran impressive time. He smashed Zebulon by five lengths on debut then ran a narrow second to Royal Snitzel here. Just looks the winner for mine.
Big Danger: Petrology was aggressively ridden by Oliver first up in the McKenzie and the early effort just told late when he weakened the last 100m to run fifth to Rich Enuff, who is, at the moment, the best three year old sprinter Melbourne has to offer. I think a more conservative ride here and the son of Fastnet Rock will be right in the finish.
Roughie: Bullpit resumes here for Danny O’Brien after a strong Autumn, which included an impressive stakes win at Morphettville during their carnival against good opposition. Recent jumpout win at Flemington was solid enough and looked relatively forward in condition, so expect him to be wound up enough to win here.

 

Race Two (1:00pm) : The Inglis Ready2Race Sale Handicap 1700m:

Back Me: Going for some value in the maiden galloper Firehouse Rock. I have been quite impressed with this horse and the way he has attacked the line at both career outings, firstly on the Geelong Synthetic before running an eye catching second at Bendigo after getting badly held up a crucial stage. 1700m looks perfect and is drawn to be away from trouble. Happy to go with him on an each way basis.
Big Danger: War Point tried very hard last time out at the Valley behind handy Moody youngster Caveka, winding up out wide but no match for the winner, who looks well above average. The extra distance suits, as does a return to a bigger track, and his home track which is a bonus. Froggy sticks, drawn well, hard to beat.
Roughie: Interesting to see how Turbo Street goes here for Tony McEvoy and Benny Melham. Greenness beat him on debut at Morphettville back in July, then was sent to the Hawkesbury stables and ran there three weeks back, and he just looked lost and green again when fifth. Coming back to race anti-clockwise could help, but the big key here is getting the blinkers for the first time. He is the knockout horse.

Samaready - Underwood Stakes day at Caulfield
Samaready – Underwood Stakes day at Caulfield

 

Race Three (1:35pm) : Alannah Hill Plate 1100m:

Back Me: Been waiting to see where/when Ryker resumes and he finally runs here. His form towards the end of the Autumn was very good, placing behind Cosmic Endeavour in the Scone Guineas before another placing in the Queensland Guineas to Sir Moments. Trial win at the start of August was outstanding, beating the likes of Terravista, Hawkspur and co by five lengths under a hold. Had he drawn a better barrier than 13, he’d be a good thing in my eyes, but even with that barrier, he’ll take a power of beating.
Big Danger: Anatina really stepped it up in two runs during the Autumn, winning at Stakes level down the Flemintgon straight before running second to Tiger Tees in the Galaxy at Rosehill. Tipped out, trialled well, on her home track and is pretty bombproof when produced fresh.
Roughie: Big watch on Fast ‘N’ Rocking who resumes as a gelding. We know he has the ability to perform at a much higher level than this, but he loved to have a think about it in the run and had no idea how to be genuine. His recent jumpout behind Adamantium, who should run well also, was encouraging, and with only 54kg along with a soft gate…don’t be surprised.

 

Race Four (2:10pm) : TMB Printing Handicap 1400m:

Back Me: Prepared to forgive Pickin’ Time another chance here. Forget she went around first up at the Valley given there was dynamite on pace bias and she got on the wrong leg. She actually did a good job to finish as close as she did, so getting to a bigger track now, and added fitness, should see her prove a tough nut to crack.
Big Danger: Veuvelicious couldn’t quite sprint with them first up over this track/distance when fifth to Kaizen in a race which was void of any speed, so it was hard for her to make up ground. Oliver climbs back aboard now, she’s fitter and will get a good speed here, so tying that in with her class, she’ll be right in the mix.
Roughie: Thinking Of You put away a moderate lot on debut at Wodonga, but she did let down quite nicely when asked by Nolen and the time stacked up well with the older horses later on in the meeting, and that is always a sign that a horse has talent. Peter Moody doesn’t throw them in the deep end unless they have ability, and this horse appears to have plenty of that.

 

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Race Five (2:45pm) : Dalziel Racing Tile Importer Handicap (90) 1400m:

Back Me: Keep De Rose was quite good I thought when resuming over this track/distance when fifth to Suavito, getting badly checked a furlong from home then picking up again late and was good through the line. Gets a nice weight pull on Suavito and I see more upside with Keep De Rose, and along with the better gate, I’m with her.
Big Danger: The Oliver magic was needed to get Suavito home here in that race mentioned above. He had to wait, and wait, and wait for the gap to appear, and it did with 100m to go, and the mare took it, savaged the line and got up on the peg to win. Won’t have it as easy this time from the wide barrier and with more depth engaged, but it was hard not to be impressed by that turn of foot she unleashed.
Roughie: They’ll need to build a new grandstand if Members Joy was to win here given she is owned by the MRC Members Club. She was very good here first up behind Gregers, then stepped up to Stakes level and was far from disgraced behind Atlante at the Valley. Back to Caulfield, Nick Hall back on, nice gate to get a drag into the race to unleash that short, sharp sprint she has…look out.

 

Race Six (3:25pm) : Jack London Naturalism Stakes 2000m:

Back Me: Spillway needs to win to get into the Caulfield Cup and he will in my opinion based on how well he ran last week in the Makybe Diva behind Dissident, making up a stack of ground from the back in a race which wasn’t suited for the backmarkers. His run prior in the P.B. Lawrence was excellent, so up to 2000m now, even field, gets in well at the weights…surely he wins.
Big Danger: Bonfire comes to Melbourne after two strong runs up north in Sydney. First up he ran a narrow second to Hoylonny, then went to the Premier’s Cup and ran second to stablemate Greatwood, who then raced last Saturday and got flogged, but I wouldn’t read too much into that, because I think Bonfire has more upside and is more versatile than Greatwood.
Roughie: One of the better three year old fillies from last season, Zanbagh has had two runs as a four year old mare under the care of Patty Payne and I think she has been quite good in each, considering they were both over unsuitable distances and at the Valley. 2000m at Caulfield should suit and being third up now, she is ready to produce.

 

Race Seven (4:00pm) : Hyland Race Colours Underwood Stakes 1800m:

Back Me: There was plenty to like about the first up run of Silent Achiever in the Memsie to Dissident. She got left flat footed when the leaders sprinted on the turn, but picked up late and was very good through in finishing fourth. She will have come on big time from that outing, great record second up and Oliver sticks. Record at Caulfield is ordinary, but she hasn’t raced any better than what she is at present.
Big Danger: The Offer got a big tick of approval from his first up effort in the Dato Tan Chin Nam behind The Cleaner at the Valley a couple of weeks back. He really had no right to finish as close as he did considering there was a dynamite on pace bias at the meeting and jockey Tommy Berry had to make his move a fair way from home. He will also take massive improvement heading into this, and although his grand final is on the first Tuesday in November, he’ll take some beating here.
Roughie: I’m tipping a much improved run from Happy Trails here. I thought he was okay first up in the Spring Stakes back home at Morphettville, then went to the Memsie and was another who got left behind when the sprint went on 500m out. He quickly came off the bit, but he stuck on late and was good through the line. He can be hard to follow, but you know sooner or later he is going to bob up in one of these races and then fire when it matters ie Cox Plate Day. He is a very good horse, so third up here, he should be ready to show something solid.

 

Race Eight (4:40pm) : Sportingbet Sprint Series Heat 2 1200m:

Back Me: Gee this is a hot race. But in saying that, under the weights scale like last with Catkins, Samaready just looks thrown in here and is the one to beat. She had an indifferent Autumn prep. She was very good fresh in the Lightning behind Snitzerland, then was disappointing in the Newmarket behind Lankan Rupee before flopping in the William Reid. Recent jumpout here was encouraging, and giving only 4kg to the bottom weight, she just about takes care of these if she is right.
Big Danger: A Time For Julia could not have been ridden better by Nolen first up in the opening heat of this series, but was beaten by a sharper and fitter mare in Gregers. Form has held up there, with Commanding Jewel and Dear Demi both running corkers last Saturday, and I wouldn’t worry about Gregers flopping because that mare isn’t a 1400m horse. The race doesn’t appear to have much early pace apart from stablemate Brilliant Bisc, so perhaps Nolen will fire out and get the drag up behind the more speedy filly. Nonetheless, a very good mare who will prove hard to beat.
Roughie: Girl Guide was smashed in pre post betting prior to her first up run at the Valley, and the punters knew what they were doing when she spanked her rivals and won with plenty in reserve. She deserves a crack at this level, and we know where she will be- out of trouble on the speed. Weight scale doesn’t suit her, but she is tough and in form.

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Race Nine (5:15pm) : Le Pine Funerals Handicap 1400m:

Back Me: Tipping St Darren to weave the wand yet again and train Lucky Hussler to a win. It was hard to comprehend this horse winning a race again given how bad his recent efforts were in Queensland, but the punters kept him very safe because of the Weir factor and the horse ran accordingly, flashing home late for third to Atlante and Trust In A Gust, in what looks now to be a fairly strong form race. Extra furlong looks perfect and he finds a really good race here.
Big Danger: Trust In A Gust has had no luck with barriers in two runs this time in, but has still ran two cracking races, both at the Valley. First up he sat three and four wide throughout and was too good in winning, then had a similar trip a fortnight and was very game when second to Atlante. Only needs normal luck and he’ll definitely be in the finish once again.
Roughie: The interesting runner here is 2013 Perth Cup winner Black Tycoon. Formerly with Justin Warwick and now with Darren Weir, this stayer hasn’t been seen since the Adelaide Cup where he finished a game second to Outback Joe. He did have a very good fresh record when trained in Perth, so it’ll be interesting to see how he goes here, knowing that he has a nomination for the Cup

 

Best Bet: Race Six Number 1 Spillway

Next Best: Race One Number 3 Zeletto

Best Roughie: Race Two Number 11 Firehouse Rock

 

Quaddie Tips (Races Six Through To Nine):

Leg One: 1, 3, 4, 5, 9, 10

Leg Two: 1, 2, 4, 9, 10

Leg Three: 1, 4, 6, 7, 13

Leg Four: 3, 5

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All odds are subject to change. Odds listed are correct at the time of the latest update.

News:

The 2013 Underwood Stakes result still hurts Michael Rodd.

The star rider won the race aboard Lion Tamer in 2011 and was on raging favourite Atlantic Jewel last year.

But after an enthralling battle that lasted the length of the Caulfield straight, it was another star of the turf in It’s A Dundeel who wore down the favourite in the final strides after she was left to take up the running.

It would prove Atlantic Jewel’s only racetrack defeat in 11 starts and one Rodd, who enjoyed a wonderful association with the mare, hasn’t forgotten.

“I’m still hurting,” Rodd said this week.

“It’s on me if she gets beaten in a race. That’s the only black mark on her record and she doesn’t deserve to have it. She’s that good.

“It took a good one to get past her. But it still hurts.”

There is not the same level of anticipation for Rodd leading into this year’s Underwood.

He is keeping a lid on expectations as he prepares to partner last year’s Cox Plate runner-up Happy Trails.

Rodd rode Happy Trails to a second-up eighth in the Memsie Stakes three weeks ago and believed he would improve again from Saturday’s race.

Trainer Paul Beshara is aiming the gelding for another shot at the Cox Plate with a defence of his Turnbull Stakes crown next on the agenda after the Underwood.

“His work on Tuesday morning was sharp and he felt good underneath me but he had a good blow,” Rodd said.

“He’ll be hitting the line strongly on Saturday but I suspect he’ll be needing it.”

Beshara shares Rodd’s opinion.

Happy Trails finished fourth in last year’s Underwood off similar lead up form to this year.

“The Underwood should top him off and let’s hope we can win the Turnbull and the Cox Plate,” Beshara said.

“That’s a nice time to peak your horse.”

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