1st: Sir Delius (Waterhouse & Bott)

• Jockey: Craig Williams
• Barrier: 10
• Form: 2nd in G2 Chelmsford (1600m) last start, strong late.
• Mail: Lightly raced Frankel entire with huge upside. Expected to roll forward despite wide draw. Cox Plate-bound and peaking second-up.
• Verdict: Clear top pick and market mover.

2nd: Buckaroo (Chris Waller)

• Jockey: Blake Shinn
• Barrier: 7
• Form: 3rd in G1 Memsie (1400m) first-up.
• Mail: Defending champ. Strong Memsie run franked by Mr Brightside. Loves Caulfield and 1800m. Looks ready to peak.
• Verdict: Big danger to go back-to-back.

3rd: Moira (Chris Waller)

• Jockey: Damian Lane
• Barrier: 4
• Form: 2nd in So You Think Stakes (1500m) behind Desert Lightning.
• Mail: Canadian G1 winner. Third-up and fitter. Drawn well. Has been hitting the line strongly.
• Verdict: Each-way special.

4th: Desert Lightning (Moody/Coleman)

• Jockey: Luke Nolen
• Barrier: 3
• Form: Won So You Think Stakes (1500m).
• Mail: Early market mover. Question mark at 1800m in Australia, but has NZ form over further.
• Verdict: Live chance if he runs out the trip.

Top 3 – No. 2 Buckaroo

Top 3 – No. 9 Sir Delius

Top 3 – No. 10 Moira

BUCKAROO (8) is the reigning Underwood Stakes champion, and he shapes as a genuine contender to become just the 15th horse in history to win multiple editions of the race — the last being Alligator Blood in 2022-23. The imported seven-year-old son of Fastnet Rock has truly hit his stride over the past season, consistently holding his own against elite company. Buckaroo claimed last year’s Underwood in emphatic fashion, storming home by 3.5 lengths over Huetor third-up, with Joao Moreira delivering a masterful ride. He backed that up with a narrow second in the Turnbull Stakes — just a neck behind the stable’s future Cox Plate winner — before producing a gutsy runner-up finish in the Caulfield Cup. Even his ninth-place effort in the Melbourne Cup, where he jumped from barrier 20 and finished within 3.5 lengths of the winner, was full of merit. His autumn campaign was best forgotten, but he’s returned this prep looking sharper and more composed. Fresh in the Group 1 Memsie Stakes, Buckaroo was overlooked by punters but impressed over 1400m, finishing third behind the exciting mare Treasurethe Moment. That form was strongly validated last Saturday when Memsie runner-up Mr Brightside made history by winning the Makybe Diva Stakes for a third time. It all points to Buckaroo being primed for another big performance this Saturday. He’ll relish the step up to 1800m, benefits from a small field, and has drawn ideally in gate eight for Blake Shinn. Peaking at the right time — expect him to be right in the mix for a Top 3 finish.

SIR DELIUS (11) is an exciting import from the Waterhouse & Bott saddle and clear favourite for this year’s Underwood Stakes. This impeccably bred entire by Frankel is a rising staying star, lining up for just his ninth career start with an already impressive record of four wins and three placings. He showed serious promise in France, highlighted by a third-place finish behind Sosie in the Group 1 Grand Prix de Paris (2400m) last July, following a hat-trick of wins to kick off his career. Sir Delius made a strong impression on Australian debut, saluting as the odds-on favourite in Doomben’s Group 3 Chairman’s Handicap (2000m) under 60kg on a Heavy track — a gritty win that showcased his determination. The stable has taken a patient approach, keeping him lightly raced, and he returned in style with a strong performance fresh in the Chelmsford Stakes at Randwick. Despite the 1600m trip being short of his best, he was excellent — charging home from midfield to just miss behind Lindermann in a tight finish. Sir Delius oozes untapped potential and looks every bit a top-class stayer in the making. With natural improvement to come and conditions to suit, he shapes as a major player in the Underwood — and could well deliver for punters this weekend.

MOIRA (4) is a dual Group 1-winning Canadian import for Waller and is another well-supported runner in the Underwood markets. The classy seven-year-old Ghostzapper mare racing in the Yu Long Investments colours. She stamped herself as world-class last November with a commanding win in the prestigious Group 1 Breeders’ Cup Fillies & Mares Turf (2213m) at Del Mar. Her Australian debut didn’t go to plan, drawing the car park (barrier 18 of 20) and finishing 14th — beaten 4.9 lengths by Stefi Magnetica in the Doncaster. But she’s been steadily improving since. Moira showed encouraging signs when fourth in the PB Lawrence, hitting the line strongly, and backed that up with a close second in the So You Think Stakes — just a long neck off Desert Lightning. Both races look solid form references heading into the spring Group 1s. She’s proven over the trip and beyond, is clearly adapting well to Australian conditions, and has drawn perfectly in gate four with Damian Lane sticking. Now fitter and ready to peak, Moira shapes as a genuine each-way threat in the Underwood.