The race attracting the weekend’s best field takes place in Melbourne with Caulfield’s star-studded Underwood Stakes 2013– betting tips and insider selections for which are detailed below.

Looking at the latest Ladbrokes.com.au markets for this year’s $400,000 Group 1 Underwood Stakes (1800m) there seems to be only one horse punters should be worried about.

Coming off back-to-back wins since returning from a lengthy injury enforced lay off, the Mark Kavanagh-trained Atlantic Jewel is now the $1.50 odds-on favourite in Underwood Stakes betting.

Winner of the Group 2 Stocks Stakes against an easy field of rivals over the Moonee Valley mile just last Saturday, the triple Group 1 winning daughter of Fastnet Rock is undefeated and looks set to remain that way come Saturday afternoon.

Outside of the champion five-year-old, who is also the short priced fancy for the $3 million Group 1 Cox Plate (2040m) in a month’s time, the only other Underwood hope under $10 is Puissance De Lune.

Darren Weir’s excellent stayer has been dominant since breaking through in last spring’s Bendigo Cup and has held onto top spot in the futures Melbourne Cup 2013 odds since betting on the November 5 classic opened late last year.

A plethora of other Group 1 performers are also out to continue their spring campaigns in the Underwood including reigning Melbourne Cup champ Green Moon ($26), their highly-rated stablemate Sea Moon ($13) racing down under for just the second time, and four-time elite level winner It’s A Dundeel out to become the third straight Kiwi-trained runner to take out the Underwood.

So will Atlantic Jewel finally be beaten? Or will she race away with her 10^th consecutive turf triumph and once again escape her first loss?

1^st

#12 Atlantic Jewel ($1.50)

This lightly-raced five-year-old really is a super star and we’re not brave enough to take her on this time. She’s nine-from-nine and a triple Group 1 winner thanks to her first-up Memsie breeze over many of these same rivals. Last week’s run was all too easy and while this will be tougher, it doesn’t look too tough for such a star mare. She’s on a short back-up but didn’t have a gut buster (despite the flying time) last Saturday so look at that as more of a trial. Drawn ideally in barrier seven which is the most successful in history in this race with five wins. Also boasts the best record at the track (3 from 3) and the 100 percent win rate is hard to ignore.

2^nd

#4 Foreteller ($21)

Might not be their grand final but think they’ll be right up in the finish here again after their eye-catching effort to hold off Puissance De Lune by a nose in the Group 1 Makybe Diva Stakes (1600m) at Flemington last start. Really like this horse and while others are giving Puissance the upper hand here with the extra distance, remember Foreteller won the Ranvet last March over 2000m in Sydney. Also a dual Randwick winner from three attempts and three from six over the distance, and are the only one in this field with a previous win at the track and distance.

3rd

#11 It’s A Dundeel ($11)

Has gone a little under the radar but this was last season’s Sydney Triple Crown winner including their six length romp at Randwick in the Australian Derby over 2400m. Will really appreciate the step up in distance here after their first-up fourth to Atlantic Jewel in the Memsie over 1400m. Kiwis have a great record in the race having won the past two editions with Lion Tamer (2011) and Ocean Park (2012) which bodes well for this very smart son of High Chaparral.

To back our Underwood Stakes 2013 tips at the best prices, or lock in your own selections taking us on, make sure you visit Ladbrokes.com.au for access to the weekend’s premier range of markets for this spring!

*All odds quoted are Fixed Win from Ladbrokes.com.au and subject to change