One of Caulfield Racecourse’s premier feature races, the $350,000 Group 1 Underwood Stakes (1800m) is set to take place on Saturday September 18 as part of the action of Sir Rupert Clark Stakes Day.
The 2010 Underwood Stakes, the first Group…
The Underwood Stakes is held in September and marks the first Group 1 race of the Melbourne Spring Racing season.
As the first major race of the season, the event attracts some of the best middle distance horses from around the country.
The 1,800 metre race is held at Caulfield racecourse on the same day as the Group 1 Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes (1400m).
The Underwood Stakes is a weight-for-age championship race for horses aged 3 years old and up with $353,000 in prize money on offer.
The day also hosts the much anticipated Fashionista Ladies Day, which displays some of the best new racing wear designs available for the season.
With the Turnball stakes a few days after, the Underwood Stakes is a good lead up race to this event as well as the Caulfield Cup and WS Cox Plate.
Due to the odd length of 1800 metres, the Stakes is used by many trainers as a step up for horses to advance from the 1600 metre mark to the longer 2000 metre races.
In 2006, Underwood Stakes winner El Segundo went on to win the 2007 WS Cox Plate and Elvstroem (2004) and Mummify (2003) used the Underwood Stakes as a practice race before they both also went on to win the Caulfield Cup.
First held in 1924 at the Werribee Racing Club racecourse, the Underwood Stakes was an 8 furlong (approx. 1600m) race which was changed to 7 furlongs for 1943.
After 1948 when the race was transferred to Caulfield racecourse, the 8 furlong race length was increased to 9 furlongs (approx. 1800m). This was until 1954 when it was once again increased by another furlong.
Eventually in 1994 the race became a definite 1800 metre race. Up until 1979 the Underwood Stakes was a principal race which was run twice in 1944.
Betting on the Underwood Stakes gives punters the opportunity to wager on plenty of betting markets including future bets, simple win/place wagers and exotics such as a Quinella bet. Each bookmaker will offer slightly different odds so make sure you check out a few to get the best possible payout when you win!
Year |
Winner |
Second |
Third |
Time |
| 2009 | Heart Of Dreams | Whobegotyou | Predatory Pricer | 1:49.5 |
| 2008 | Weekend Husler | Pompeii Ruler | Littorio | 1:49.8 |
| 2007 | Rubiscent | Miss Finland | Marasco | 1:49.0 |
| 2006 | El Segundo | Polar Bear | Molotov | 1:49.5 |
| 2005 | Perlin | Our Smoking Joe | Shes Justa Tad | 1:52.7 |
| 2004 | Elvstroem | Shes Archie | Delzao | 1:50.0 |
| 2003 | Mummify | Grey Song | Aint Seen Nothing | 1:49.5 |
| 2002 | Northerly | Magical Miss | Don Eduardo | 1:48.9 |
| 2001 | Northerly | Universal Prince | Kaapstad Way | 1:50.2 |
| 2000 | Oliver Twist | Skoozi Please | Kaapstad Way | 1:47.6 |
Use the Underwood Stakes as a chance to prepare for the onslaught of top horse racing action that follows. That includes the Melbourne Cup. With odds, tips, and the Melbourne Cup form guide being released right around this time, it is the start of some of the best betting action to be had in Australian horse racing.
