Underwood Stakes

The Underwood Stakes is held in Melbourne in late September or early October as a key lead-up to the Cox Plate and Caulfield Cup.

2023 Underwood Stakes Results

  • 1st: #2 Alligator Blood
  • 2nd: #5 Tuvalu
  • 3rd: #15 Duais



The Underwood Stakes is a Group 1 race run during the renowned Melbourne Spring Racing Carnival in late September.

Recently held on the Sunday after Sydney’s Golden Rose Stakes, in 2023 the Underwood Stakes takes place on the Saturday at Caulfield Racecourse.

The feature event of Underwood Stakes Day, this 1800m race is run under weight-for-age conditions and is currently worth $750,000 in stakes.

The Underwood was moved in 2021 to Ladbrokes Park Hillside (Sandown) bringing Group 1 racing to the Sandown track for the first time in 25 years.

Underwood Stakes Day returned to Caulfield Racecourse for the 2023 edition.

Key lead-up races to this event that Underwood Stakes runners may come via include the John F. Feehan Stakes (1600m) at Moonee Valley, the Makybe Diva Stakes (1600m) at Flemington a fortnight before and the Memsie Stakes (1400m) in August.

So You Think (2010) was the last horse to complete the Memsie Stakes – Underwood Stakes double without a run in between. In 2017 the Kiwi-trained mare Bonneval completed the Dato’ Tan Chin Nam Stakes (now the John F Feehan) – Underwood Stakes double. All of these quality weight-for-age Group races may be used as preparation for the Underwood and then the more lucrative and prestigious races held later in the carnival.

The Underwood Stakes is the first weight-for-age race run over a distance greater than 1400m and provides horses with an excellent opportunity to step up their race distance in preparation for the 2000m and 2400m events to follow. This race is definitely worth keeping an eye on as it has been a solid guide to the Caulfield Cup and Cox Plate in recent years.

In 2020 the Underwood Stakes winner Russian Camelot went on to run third in that year’s Cox Plate trifecta.

The 2021 Underwood Stakes form was franked with the winner Zaaki atoning for his Cox Plate scratching with a Group 1 Mackinnon Stakes victory that spring and success in the 2022 $5 million The All-Star Mile the following autumn.

Zaaki returned for a title defence in 2022 but only managed to run third behind all-the-way winner Alligator Blood, but he did go on to salute in the Mackinnon Stakes (run as the VRC Champions Stakes) again that November.

Alligator Blood went on to frank the 2022 Underwood Stakes form with a win in Flemington’s Group 1 Champions Mile that Melbourne Cup Carnival as well as the 2023 Futurity Stakes the next autumn.

Alligator Blood returned to go back-to-back in the 2023 Underwood Stakes becoming the race’s 13th multiple winner and the first to do so on successive years since Northerly (2001-02).

The 2023 Underwood Stakes form was franked with Alligator Blood going on to win the Group 1 Might And Power (2000m) next start.

The form also held with the sixth place-getter in the Underwood Stakes results, the Anthony & Sam Freedman-trained Without A Fight, winning the Group 1 Caulfield Cup (2400m) next start.

This season the Underwood Stakes 2023 took place on Saturday September 23rd, 2023 at Caulfield Racecourse and saw the reigning champion Alligator Blood ($3.60F) salute for the punters with a late surging victory on the short seven-day turnaround. 

Underwood Stakes
Date: Saturday September 23rd, 2023
Track: Caulfield Racecourse
Distance: 1800m
Conditions: Weight-for-age
Status: Group 1
Prize Money: $750,000
Inaugurated: 1924

2023 Underwood Stakes Results

  • 1st: #2 Alligator Blood ($3.60F)
  • 2nd: #5 Tuvalu
  • 3rd: #15 Duais

The Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott-trained Alligator Blood ($3.60F) was huge on the short turnaround improving on a second to Mr Brightside in the Makybe Diva Stakes to come wide and late off a lovely Damien Oliver ride to salute for the punters and go back-to-back in the 2023 Underwood Stakes results.

Click here to read more on the impressive Underwood Stakes 2023 win by the Cox Plate-bound Alligator Blood.

2023 Underwood Stakes Results & Finishing Order

Finish No. Horse Trainer Jockey Margin Bar. Weight Penalty Starting Price
1 2 ALLIGATOR BLOOD Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott Damien Oliver 8 59kg $3.60F
2 5 TUVALU Lindsey Smith Ms Jamie Kah 1L 12 59kg $7
3 15 DUAIS Edward Cummings Craig Williams 1.2L 7 57kg $26
4 10 SOULCOMBE (GB) Chris Waller Blake Shinn 1.4L 5 59kg $7.50
5 9 RIGHT YOU ARE Ciaron Maher & David Eustace Ben Allen 2.15L 2 59kg $12
6 8 WITHOUT A FIGHT (IRE) Anthony & Sam Freedman Mark Zahra 2.25L 10 59kg $4.60
7 4 NONCONFORMIST Grahame Begg Harry Coffey 2.45L 6 59kg $41
8 13 LINDERMANN Chris Waller Hugh Bowman 2.95L 3 58kg $12
9 12 BANK MAUR Richard Laming Jye McNeil 4.45L 1 58kg $51
10 1 VOW AND DECLARE Danny O’Brien Billy Egan 4.55L 4 59kg $201
11 7 ALENQUER (FR) Michael Moroney Declan Bates 4.65L 9 59kg $151
12 3 MO’UNGA (NZ) Annabel Neasham Jamie Mott 7.4L 15 59kg $41
13 14 ATTRITION Mitchell Freedman Ben Melham 7.7L 14 58kg $9
14 6 SMOKIN’ ROMANS (NZ) Ciaron Maher & David Eustace John Allen 8.45L 13 59kg $71
15 16 LUNAR FLARE Grahame Begg Michael Dee 10.2L 11 57kg $151
17e ALASKAN GOD Daniel Morton 0
11 DUKE DE SESSA (IRE) Ciaron Maher & David Eustace Ethan Brown 0

Table Credit: Racing Australia. 

2023 Underwood Stakes Betting

Horses that ran well in lead-up races like Moonee Valley’s Feehan Stakes and the Memsie Stakes dominate the Underwood Stakes betting markets each spring.

Favourites at the top of the Underwood Stakes odds on race day however have a poor recent record with the only ones to salute for the punters since So You Think (2010) being Black Heart Bart (2016), Russian Camelot ($1.55 in 2020), Zaaki ($1.18 in 2021), and most recently Alligator Blood ($3.60) for his second in 2023.

Black Heart Bart meanwhile incredibly won the race again three years later as a $101 roughie in 2019.

The season’s top Underwood Stakes 2023 odds and betting market links to Ladbrokes.com.au will be provided below as soon as released.

CLICK HERE FOR THE LATEST 2023 UNDERWOOD STAKES ODDS (Final Field)

2023 Underwood Stakes Form

CLICK HERE FOR THE FULL 2023 UNDERWOOD STAKES FORM GUIDE

2023 Underwood Stakes Tips

Stay tuned for our insider Underwood Stakes 2023 Tips on the popular spring showdown this season.

  • To Win: #5 Tuvalu ($7 at time of publish) – BET NOW

Taking on the Gator with Tuvalu at nice value here in the Underwood Stakes fit third-up and ready to fire. Lindsey Smith’s Kermadec gelding was runner-up to Alligator Blood in the Group 1 Champions Mile (1600m) a half-length beaten at headquarters last Melbourne Cup Carnival and can turn the tables here. Fresh he was two lengths fourth behind the form horse of the season so far, Mr Brightside, in the Group 2 P.B. Lawrence Stakes (1400m) before a third to Pinstriped in the Group 2 Feehan Stakes (1600m) at The Valley. He will relish the 1800m now with previous winning form at the distance and his runs spaced well. Wide draw but time to overcome and looks overs.

2023 Underwood Stakes Field

Each season the Underwood Stakes field attracts a gun line-up of potential Cox Plate and Caulfield Cup horses coming off lead-up runs in races including the Dato’ Tan Chin Nam Stakes (now known as the Feehan Stakes) or Flemington’s Makybe Diva Stakes. In 2016 Black Heart Bart improved on a lead-up second in the Makybe Diva Stakes over the mile to win the Underwood Stakes, while Bonneval (2017) completed the Dato’ Tan Chin Nam – Underwood Stakes double.

In 2023 the defending Underwood Stakes winner Alligator Blood won again on a quick back-up off a Group 1 Makybe Diva Stakes second over the Flemington mile the weekend prior.

The official 2023 Underwood Stakes field of final acceptances will be released on the Wednesday leading up to Underwood Stakes Day and listed in full below along with the Underwood Stakes barrier draw.

The Underwood Stakes 2023 final field features a capacity line-up of potential Cox Plate-bound gallopers led in betting by the Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott-trained Alligator Blood coming off a second to Mr Brightside in the Group 1 Makybe Diva last weekend.

Click here to read more on the key runners in the 2023 Alligator Blood field and betting markets.

No Last 10 Horse Trainer Jockey Barrier Weight Probable Weight Penalty Hcp Rating
1 601x22460x VOW AND DECLARE Danny O’Brien Billy Egan 4 59kg 106
2 551x140x42 ALLIGATOR BLOOD Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott Damien Oliver 8 59kg 116
3 52x5332x00 MO’UNGA (NZ) Annabel Neasham Jamie Mott 17 59kg 111
4 70x18402x0 NONCONFORMIST Grahame Begg Harry Coffey 6 59kg 106
5 x312x79x43 TUVALU Lindsey Smith Ms Jamie Kah 13 59kg 111
6 1177x884x6 SMOKIN’ ROMANS (NZ) Ciaron Maher & David Eustace John Allen 14 59kg 108
7 616x69x00x ALENQUER (FR) Michael Moroney Declan Bates 10 59kg 113
8 311x20x11x WITHOUT A FIGHT (IRE) Anthony & Sam Freedman Mark Zahra 11 59kg 111
9 51111121×2 RIGHT YOU ARE Ciaron Maher & David Eustace Ben Allen 2 59kg 106
10 41x1x682x1 SOULCOMBE (GB) Chris Waller Blake Shinn 5 59kg 106
11 52x131x8x0 DUKE DE SESSA (IRE) Ciaron Maher & David Eustace Ethan Brown 16 59kg 105
12 18x27410x8 BANK MAUR Richard Laming Jye McNeil 1 58kg 99
13 2x51210x04 LINDERMANN Chris Waller Hugh Bowman 3 58kg 106
14 33x1152x52 ATTRITION Mitchell Freedman Ben Melham 15 58kg 103
15 6880x43x79 DUAIS Edward Cummings Craig Williams 7 57kg 112
16 612x7931x8 LUNAR FLARE Grahame Begg Michael Dee 12 57kg 107
17e x60847x725 ALASKAN GOD Daniel Morton 9 59kg 92

Table Credit: Racing Australia. 

2023 Underwood Stakes Nominations

The 2023 Underwood Stakes nominations are released by Racing Victoria on the Monday of race week and will be published in full below once announced.

The Underwood Stakes 2023 nominations have attracted a bumper 26 potential Cox Plate hopefuls including last year’s Melbourne Cup champion Gold Trip, the resuming Anthony & Sam Freedmam-trained The Q22 winner Without A Fight, and last weekend’s Makybe Diva Stakes runner-up Alligator Blood on the potential quick back-up.

Last 10 Horse Sex Age Trainer Ballot Weight True Weight Penalty Hcp Rating
1 291x2570x4 GOLD TRIP (FR) H 7 Ciaron Maher & David Eustace 1 59kg 117
2 551x140x42 ALLIGATOR BLOOD G 7 Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott 2 59kg 116
3 616x69x00x ALENQUER (FR) G 6 Michael Moroney 3 59kg 113
4 6880x43x79 DUAIS M 6 Edward Cummings 4 57kg 112
5 52x5332x00 MO’UNGA (NZ) H 6 Annabel Neasham 5 59kg 111
6 x312x79x43 TUVALU G 6 Lindsey Smith 6 59kg 111
7 311x20x11x WITHOUT A FIGHT (IRE) G 7 Anthony & Sam Freedman 7 59kg 111
8 3x3x907x00 EL BODEGON (IRE) G 5 Chris Waller 8 59kg 110
9 1177x884x6 SMOKIN’ ROMANS (NZ) G 7 Ciaron Maher & David Eustace 9 59kg 108
10 x534113x21 PINSTRIPED G 5 Enver Jusufovic 10 59kg 107
11 612x7931x8 LUNAR FLARE M 8 Grahame Begg 11 57kg 107
12 2x51210x04 LINDERMANN H 4 Chris Waller 12 58kg 106
13 2111263×64 POUNDING G 5 Peter G Moody & Katherine Coleman 13 59kg 106
14 41x1x682x1 SOULCOMBE (GB) G 5 Chris Waller 14 59kg 106
15 70x18402x0 NONCONFORMIST G 7 Grahame Begg 15 59kg 106
16 51111121×2 RIGHT YOU ARE G 7 Ciaron Maher & David Eustace 16 59kg 106
17 601x22460x VOW AND DECLARE G 8 Danny O’Brien 17 59kg 106
18 52x131x8x0 DUKE DE SESSA (IRE) H 5 Ciaron Maher & David Eustace 18 59kg 105
19 33x1152x52 ATTRITION H 4 Mitchell Freedman 19 58kg 103
20 7x31x111x9 GOLDMAN (NZ) G 5 Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott 20 59kg 103
21 132x8802x0 VIRTUOUS CIRCLE (NZ) H 4 Liam Howley 21 58kg 100
22 18x27410x8 BANK MAUR H 4 Richard Laming 22 58kg 99
23 2415931×17 DENY KNOWLEDGE (IRE) M 6 Michael Kent 23 57kg 97
24 15x4430x76 FORGOT YOU (NZ) H 5 Trent Busuttin & Natalie Young 24 59kg 96
25 x60847x725 ALASKAN GOD G 5 Daniel Morton 25 59kg 92
26 2311320×56 SHE’S FIT M 4 Daniel Morton 26 56kg 86

Table Credit: Racing Australia. 

Underwood Stakes History

Whittier was the inaugural Underwood Stakes winner in 1924 and followed up this success claiming victory the next year as well. The event began as a principal race run over eight furlongs.

For one year in 1943 the distance was decreased to seven furlongs, but went back to the original length the next year. That year, in 1944, there was two runnings of the race, with both Amana and Tea Cake seeing victory. In 1949 the length was increased to nine furlongs and then a few years later in 1954 another distance jump saw the event raced over 10 furlongs. With Australia’s adoption of the metric system, the race was converted to 2000m in 1972 and not long after in 1979 the event was elevated to Group 1 status. In 1994, the distance was cut to 1800m and has remained the same through until today.

The Underwood Stakes has had a number of elite horses claim victory including Phar Lap (1931), Rain Lover (1969), Bonecrusher (1986), Octagonal (1996), Tie The Knot (1998), Northerly (2001 & 2002), Weekend Hussler (2008), So You Think (2010), Russian Camelot (2020), and one of the race’s shortest-ever favourites Zaaki (2021).

Underwood Stakes results play a major role in form understanding for punters who follow the Melbourne Spring Racing Carnival.

In 2023 the Underwood Stakes returned to Caulfield Racecourse with prize money reduced from $1 million to $750,000.

Alligator Blood (2022, 2023) is the latest two-time Underwood Stakes winner saluting for the first time at Sandown and then defending his title at Caulfield the following year.

Underwood Stakes results and winning times since 2000 are provided below.

Underwood Stakes Results

Year Place Horse Time
 
2023
Underwood Stakes
1st Alligator Blood 1 minute 48.53 seconds
2nd Tuvalu
3rd Duais
 
2022
Underwood Stakes
1st Alligator Blood 1 minute 48.98 seconds
2nd Mo’unga
3rd Zaaki
 
2021
Underwood Stakes
1st Zaaki 1 minute 49.20 seconds
2nd Probabeel
3rd Superstorm
 
2020
Underwood Stakes
1st Russian Camelot 1 minute 50.85 seconds
2nd Humidor
3rd Arcadia Queen
 
2019
Underwood Stakes
1st Black Heart Bart 1 minute 49.27 seconds
2nd Homesman
3rd Gailo Chop
 
2018
Underwood Stakes
1st Homesman 1 minute 48.70 seconds
2nd Tosen Basil
3rd Humidor
 
2017
Underwood Stakes
1st Bonneval 1 minute 48.41 seconds
2nd Hartnell
3rd Gailo Chop
 
2016
Underwood Stakes
1st Black Heart Bart 1 minute 50.64 seconds
2nd He Or She
3rd Lucia Valentina
 
2015
Underwood Stakes
1st Mourinho 1 minute 48.83 seconds
2nd Fawkner
3rd The Cleaner
 
2014
Underwood Stakes
1st Foreteller 1 minute 50.25 seconds
2nd Happy Trails
3rd Crackerjack King
 
2013
Underwood Stakes
1st It’s A Dundeel 1 minute 54.70 seconds
2nd Atlantic Jewel
3rd Dear Demi
 
2012
Underwood Stakes
1st Ocean Park 1 minute 51.40 seconds
2nd Voila Ici
3rd December Draw
 
2011
Underwood Stakes
1st Lion Tamer 1 minute 50.03 seconds
2nd Southern Speed
3rd Midas Touch
 
2010
Underwood Stakes
1st So You Think 1 minute 49.54 seconds
2nd Dariana
3rd Metal Bender
 
2009
Underwood Stakes
1st Heart Of Dreams 1 minute 49.5 seconds
2nd Whobegotyou
3rd Predatory Pricer
 
2008
Underwood Stakes
1st Weekend Hussler 1 minute 49.8 seconds
2nd Pompeii Ruler
3rd Littorio
 
2007
Underwood Stakes
1st Rubiscent 1 minute 49 seconds
2nd Miss Finland
3rd Marasco
 
2006
Underwood Stakes
1st El Segundo 1 minute 49.5 seconds
2nd Polar Bear
3rd Molotov
 
2005
Underwood Stakes
1st Perlin 1 minute 52.7 seconds
2nd Our Smoking Joe
3rd She’s Justa Tad
 
2004
Underwood Stakes
1st Elvstroem 1 minute 50 seconds
2nd She’s Archie
3rd Delzao
 
2003
Underwood Stakes
1st Mummify 1 minute 49.5 seconds
2nd Grey Song
3rd Aint Seen Nothing
 
2002
Underwood Stakes
1st Northerly 1 minute 48.9 seconds
2nd Magical Miss
3rd Don Eduardo
 
2001
Underwood Stakes
1st Northerly 1 minute 50.2 seconds
2nd Universal Prince
3rd Kaapstad Way
 
2000
Underwood Stakes
1st Oliver Twist 1 minute 47.6 seconds
2nd Shoozi Please
3rd Kaapstad Way

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