2022 Kingsford-Smith Cup Field & Betting Update: Favourite Entriviere Draws 17
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The Underwood Stakes is held in Melbourne in late September as a key lead-up to the Caulfield Cup.
The Underwood Stakes is a Group 1 race run during the renowned Melbourne Spring Racing Carnival in late September or early October on the same Saturday as Sydney’s Golden Rose Stakes and the AFL Grand Final in Melbourne.
The feature event of Underwood Stakes Day, this 1800m race is run under weight-for-age conditions and is worth $1 million in prize money.
The Underwood traditionally takes place at Caulfield Racecourse, but in 2021 will ran at Ladbrokes Park Hillside (Sandown) bringing Group 1 racing to the Sandown track for the first time in 25 years.
Key lead-up races to this event that Underwood Stakes runners may come via include the Dato Tan Chin Nam 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 – 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.
This season the Underwood Stakes 2021 took place on Saturday September 25th, 2021 and was won by the $1.18 favourite Zaaki.
Underwood Stakes | |
---|---|
Date: | Saturday September 25th, 2021 |
Track: | Caulfield Racecourse (Ladbrokes Park Hillside, Sandown in 2021) |
Distance: | 1800m |
Conditions: | Weight-for-age |
Status: | Group 1 |
Prize Money: | $1,000,000 |
Inaugurated: | 1924 |
The Annabel Neasham-trained superstar Zaaki ($1.18F) kept the wins coming on way to his grand final in the $5 million Cox Plate scoring an easy second-up win over Probabeel (2nd) and Superstorm (3rd) in the 2021 Underwood Stakes results.
Click here to read more on the easy 2021 Underwood Stakes win by Cox Plate-bound Zaaki.
Finish | No. | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Margin | Bar. | Weight | Penalty | Starting Price | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 2 | ZAAKI (GB) | Annabel Neasham | Craig Williams | 3 | 59kg | $1.18F | |||
2 | 5 | PROBABEEL (NZ) | Jamie Richards | Brett Prebble | 2L | 2 | 57kg | $7.50 | ||
3 | 4 | SUPERSTORM | Danny O’Brien | Damien Oliver | 3.75L | 4 | 59kg | $21 | ||
4 | 3 | THE CHOSEN ONE (NZ) | Murray Baker & Andrew Forsman | Damian Lane | 6.25L | 5 | 59kg | $26 | ||
5 | 1 | FIFTY STARS (IRE) | Tom Dabernig | John Allen | 18.25L | 1 | 59kg | $31 |
Table Credit: Racing Australia.
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) and most recent Zaaki ($1.18 in 2021).
Black Heart Bart meanwhile incredibly won the race again three years later as a $101 roughie in 2019.
The season’s top Underwood Stakes 2021 odds and betting market links to Ladbrokes.com.au will be provided below as soon as released.
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.
The official 2021 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 2021 final field features just five runners with Annabel Neasham’s Cox Plate favourite Zaaki the red hot favourite in gate three with Craig Williams to ride.
Click here to read more on the key horses in the 2021 Underwood Stakes field and betting markets.
No | Last 10 | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Barrier | Weight | Penalty | Hcp Rating |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | x720872x00 | FIFTY STARS (IRE) | Tom Dabernig | John Allen | 1 | 59kg | 110 | |
2 | 47x6D111x1 | ZAAKI (GB) | Annabel Neasham | Craig Williams | 3 | 59kg | 114 | |
3 | 734x2606x3 | THE CHOSEN ONE (NZ) | Murray Baker & Andrew Forsman | Damian Lane | 5 | 59kg | 107 | |
4 | 2x90736x41 | SUPERSTORM | Danny O’Brien | Damien Oliver | 4 | 59kg | 108 | |
5 | 17x1102x15 | PROBABEEL (NZ) | Jamie Richards | Brett Prebble | 2 | 57kg | 115 |
Table Credit: Racing Australia.
The 2021 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 2021 nominations have been extended until Tuesday morning after drawing a dozen early entries dominated by Annabel Neasham’s Cox Plate favourite and last start Tramway Stakes winner first-up Zaaki.
Last 10 | Horse | Sex | Age | Trainer | Hcp Rating | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 212×8 | BUTTER CHICKEN (NZ) | M | 4 | Grahame Begg | 78 |
2 | 313616x2x0 | DAWN PATROL (IRE) | G | 5 | Robert Hickmott | 103 |
3 | 035×528253 | DR DRILL (GB) | G | 7 | Ciaron Maher & David Eustace | 99 |
4 | 1x111x12 | ELEPHANT (NZ) | G | 5 | Emma-Lee & David Browne | |
5 | 51132113×9 | EXPLOSIVE JACK (NZ) | H | 4 | Ciaron Maher & David Eustace | 108 |
6 | x720872x00 | FIFTY STARS (IRE) | H | 7 | Tom Dabernig | 110 |
7 | 73x31x932x | HOMESMAN (USA) | G | 8 | Anthony & Sam Freedman | 110 |
8 | 17x1102x15 | PROBABEEL (NZ) | M | 5 | Jamie Richards | 115 |
9 | 6x794159x3 | SIR DRAGONET (IRE) | H | 6 | Ciaron Maher & David Eustace | 116 |
10 | 2x90736x41 | SUPERSTORM | G | 5 | Danny O’Brien | 109 |
11 | 734x2606x3 | THE CHOSEN ONE (NZ) | H | 6 | Murray Baker & Andrew Forsman | 107 |
12 | 47x6D111x1 | ZAAKI (GB) | G | 7 | Annabel Neasham | 114 |
Table Credit: Racing Australia.
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.
Underwood Stakes results and winning times since 2000 are provided below.
Year | Place | Horse | Time |
---|---|---|---|
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 |