Gr 1 – Underwood Stakes

Terrific horse who goes well 2nd up and is always a major threat. Melbourne Cup winner and last prep was a Gr 3 winner in the Brisbane winter. Carried 62.5kg when running a fast time in finishing 5th to Young Werther when resuming last start. Could be the surprise package as that run equates to a huge chance in this.

This bloke is very much an under-rated horse. On his day, he is one of the very best milers in the land and his on-pace effort last start to easily win the 1500m So You Think at The Valley was impressive. Has won at this journey and is in peek form. Expect a very bold showing.

Old boy with a zest for racing still. Not sure he is actually a Gr 1 level horse though. Was beaten comfortably by over 3 lengths last start when carrying .5kg less than Pericles. Has only recorded one win from 10 starts here so I’m looking past him on this occasion.

Another old-timer, former Gr 1 winner who is very capable on his day. But, this is a solid field, he probably gets a long way back early, doesn’t boast a strong first-up record, has never raced at this track, has not won in 4 attempts at this trip and tends to prefer wet ground. So, in conclusion, this looks a bit hard.

Tremendous on-pace galloper who excels while fresh and if the track is damp. It will be overcast but not sure there will be rain about. Won at Gr 1 level in the winter and from this great draw he looks to go hard enough early without spending too much cash to be on speed. Will be battling away late. Place show.

Has steadily, over the past 18 months, morphed into a bonafide Gr 1 star and he resumes here with stable confidence. Has won up to 2400m and has run super fast at 2000m. Goes well fresh too. The recent trial was impressive and a lot of things point to him racing very well. Is best on a firm track which he looks like getting here. Big threat.

We had been waiting for a while for him to produce the kind of form he showed last start when on speed and too good late for Hinged in the Gr 2 Chelmsford over a mile. Is 3rd up here and handles this trip brilliantly. Looks bullet-proof as he will be near speed all the way and has a finishing kick. One of the very hardest to beat.

I’m not quite sure he is a Gr 1 horse yet but what he does bring to the table is consistency. He will get back and run on. Resumes here and his fresh form isn’t wonderful so that will be against him. Maybe in a couple of runs we can have some fun with him.

Led at 4th run from a spell under a big weight and fought on gamely when 2nd to Young Werther here over 2000m last start. Time was solid. This is harder but he has promised to do something big one day and he may sneak a place here.

I think she is the best horse in this field and on that premise alone she must be considered. But, when you consider this is her 2nd Aussie prep, plus the fact she is potent at this trip, has been brilliant in top races while fresh and recently trialled the house down, to me she looks the logical bet. Drawn to be handy all the way and I would not be surprised if she skipped away and won handsomely.

Outstanding when left alone in front as she showed last start winning the Grafton Cup over 2350m. This is harder but she is also a lot fitter. There is a bit of speed in this race but she wants the front badly so will most likely lead and set a solid tempo. Bound to be fighting away for a look at the minor prizemoney late in the race.

Very classy mare who might develop into a superstar this prep. Won the SA Derby last prep beating the boom horse Warmonger. Resumed from spell with a big weight in unsuitable BM 100 and finished just behind the placegetters hitting the line hard late. This is tougher but I sense we may be looking at a very smart one here. Respect her.