Underwood Stakes Tips & Preview 2023

Looking for Underwood Stakes tips and best bets? We dissect times and form to find the winner of the 2023 Underwood Stakes at Caulfield.

UNDERWOOD STAKES BETTING SNAPSHOT

Alligator Blood is the $3.10 favourite with Dabble after the barrier draw just ahead of the Q22 (2200m) winner, Without A Fight, who is first up this weekend. The promising galloper from the Mitch Freedman stable, Attrition, is at $8 following his last start Feehan Stakes (1600m) runner-up performance, while Tuvalu is the other horse under double figures at $8.50. 

There are 16 gallopers that have accepted for the $750,000 feature and Soulcombe is rated a $10 shot after his win in the Heatherlie Handicap (1700m), while the Chris Waller-trained Lindermann is at $12. Right You Are ($19), Duais ($20) and Mo’unga ($31) head the rest of the field. 

UNDERWOOD STAKES FORM ANALYSIS

Alligator Blood comes into this third up and scored in the Underwood Stakes last year, when the Group 1 was held at Sandown. He has gone forward in slowly run races in his two runs this time in and has just lacked the sprint at the business end behind Mr Brightside in those runs. 

In the Makybe Diva Stakes, the seven-year-old went just 5.7 lengths faster than standard. That was due to the slow early tempo and he ran his last 600m in a slick 33.68. Despite going down, that form looks good for this and he controlled proceedings last year when too good for the likes of Mr Brightside, I’m Thunderstruck and Zaaki. 

Attrition comes in with the best last start benchmark figures of any runner, having gone 11.6 lengths faster than standard in the Feehan. The four-year-old was held up slightly in that race before running on and producing the fastest last 200m. He improved seven lengths on figures at this stage of his last preparation and give the impression that he wants the 1800m. 

Tuvalu is one from one over the 1800m and was 3rd behind Pinstriped and Attrition last time. Alaskan God (5th) and Lunar Flare (8th) are others to come out of the Feehan Stakes. Alaskan God is the first emergency for this and is not without a chance if he can sneak in. Lunar Flare will like the extra distance and will strip fitter. 

Without A Fight is an Anthony & Sam Freedman import that came over to run in the Melbourne Cup (3200m) last year. The seven-year-old had a two start autumn prep and went 9.3 lengths faster than standard when winning first up, before claiming the $1.2 million Q22. He looked sharp in a recent trial and must be respected. 

Without A Fight is one of just two last start winners in the race. The other is Soulcombe. He looked a star when winning at his first go in Australia last year then never really got going in the autumn. But his return at Caulfield was promising, coming from well back to score from Flash Flood. Not quite sure if that is the form for this. 

Lindermann is the stablemate of Soulcombe and comes up from Sydney after running 4th in the Chelmsford Stakes (1600m), going just 3.4 lengths faster than standard. He is likely to need to produce a big personal best to trouble these. 

Is there a roughie that can feature? Right You Are should have improvement to come after finishing a narrow runner-up behind Jimmy The Bear when first up at Caulfield over the 1600m and is two from three at the trip. Nonconformist is capable on his day, while a few others can be a factor if they can find their best, including Duais and Mo’unga. 

UNDERWOOD STAKES TIPS AND BEST BETS

The top three in the market look rock solid and I am giving the edge to Alligator Blood. He comes out of the stronger races and there has been nothing wrong with his performances so far this preparation. I don’t mind him on the back-up and last weekend would not have taken too much out of him. Wouldn’t mind seeing Damien Oliver put the pressure on a little earlier this weekend. Best roughie in the race is Right You Are. The Maher/Eustace galloper went from strength to strength at his last preparation and has finished in the top two at his past eight starts. He produced some big figures in a couple of those and can grind it out at the business end.