The final number of runners for Chris Waller in the Underwood Stakes at Caulfield will hinge on barrier draws and the predicted race shape.

Six horses are entered by Waller for the Group 1 weight-for-age contest over 1800 metres on Saturday: Aeliana, Buckaroo, Lindermann, Birdman, Asterix, and Soulcombe.

Aeliana and Lindermann also have entries for the Group 2 7 Stakes (1600m) at Randwick, while Asterix and Soulcombe are nominated for the Group 3 Naturalism Stakes (2000m) at Caulfield.

Waller is leaning towards sending Aeliana and Lindermann to Melbourne but will wait until acceptances and the barrier draw are known before making a final decision.

“Blake Shinn is booked to ride in the Underwood if he comes down, so we’re well prepared,” Waller stated. “He deserves his chance in a Group 1 race. The whole of last year was built around getting his confidence up and running against the best horses. He did run second in the Queen Elizabeth, so it was good to see him bounce back to form last start.”

Lindermann returned to winning form in the Group 2 Chelmsford Stakes (1600m) at Randwick on September 5, after finishing ninth behind Autumn Glow in the Winx Stakes (1400m) last month.

Aeliana, who finished behind Lindermann in the Winx Stakes, remained in Sydney following her scratching from the Makybe Diva Stakes (1600m) at Flemington last Saturday.

Aeliana’s only start since her spell resulted in a last-place finish behind Autumn Glow.

“Her first-up run was disappointing,” Waller conceded. “We thought she was out of her comfort zone, and we saw Lindermann bounce back off a flat run in the Winx Stakes, so there is no reason why she can’t. I would like to see her draw well and when you want to get a horses confidence levels up, and you draw wide in an Underwood Stakes and well in a 7 Stakes, I’d rather keep her in Sydney, but if she draws well in the Underwood, I would say she will come down.”

Birdman and Buckaroo are confirmed to participate in the race.

Both were withdrawn from the Makybe Diva Stakes last weekend and completed a 1000m jump-out at Flemington last Friday.

Waller felt that bypassing the Makybe Diva Stakes was the correct choice for the pair.

“It would have been hard to win last week, and Autumn Boy was good running second behind Sheza Alibi which was great for their team, and it franked the form behind Autumn Glow,” Waller noted. “I think we made the right decision and Birdman and Buckaroo will be here on Saturday. They had a trial on Friday and will have a maintenance gallop. Birdman was terrific first-up, so was Buckaroo and they’re ready to peak over 1800 metres.”

Soulcombe completed a gallop at Caulfield on Tuesday with Blake Shinn in the saddle, and the jockey reported no issues with the stayer.

The 2023 Melbourne Cup runner-up has had just one run since, finishing near the back in the Heatherlie Handicap (1700m) on August 29, following an injury-forced absence.

“I think we might have had him a bit overdone in terms of his weight first-up,” Waller said. “We worked really hard during his prep work to get weight off him to help his legs, and we might have left him with no energy. We’ve upped his energy levels, and I think he looks better in his coat. He was disappointing last start, so there is no reason why he could not bounce back. It’s a big step to win second-up, but I would like to see him be competitive.”

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