Group 1 Underwood Stakes betting, form guide and free tips
THE $500,000 Group 1 Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes and the Group 1 Underwood Stakes are two of the main lead-up races to the Melbourne spring carnival and it pays to take notice.
Punters will have their eyes glued to Caulfield this Saturday which is dealing up a massive day of racing on what promises to be a good racing surface.
Not only is there two group ones on the card, but the current Melbourne Cup favourite, Signoff, is in action and the talented youngsters are also in action in the Thousand Guineas and Caulfield Guineas Preludes.
If your horse finishes second or third in races 1-5 at Caulfield on Saturday, Sportsbet will give punters up to $50 in bonus bets.
Race 1 – The Alfred Hospital R90 (1100m)
Super Cash is a winner of the Moomba Plate at Flemington last campaign which goes well fresh up. The Andrew Noblet-trained mare has won and placed in two fresh up starts and it has never finished out of the money in three starts at this distance. Well-weighted at 55kg and looks a chance at $3.30.
Mossin’ Around is bred to enjoy the rain-affected tracks, but it has solid form on the dry and it was rather unlucky last start. The four-year-old was trapped wide throughout and never got a shot at them in the Cockram Stakes, which should be a great form guide for this. Bookmakers are showing it no respect at $13, but that’s a good each way quote.
Take Pride gets the inside draw and it will likely find the lead. The Murray Johnson-trained mare won the Champagne Stakes at Moonee Valley by three lengths over Secret Agenda last year and that form has since been franked. It didn’t quite fire in its only run this year, but it has been given time to get over that run so consider the $6.50 price.
Race 1 tip: Mossin’ Around to place ($3.80) at Sportsbet.com.au
Race 2 – Italktravel Harry White Classic (2400m)
It’s now or never for Signoff which is the current $17 favourite for the Melbourne Cup with some bookmakers. The Darren Weir-trained gelding has been average in two runs back from a spell and it should be able to show its best at this distance against a field which lacks class. It might be past its best as a seven-year-old, but the $5.50 is a value price.
Assign is a six-year-old import which won its only start at Caulfield in February. The son of Montjeu was running on well behind Royal Rapture at Flemington last start and it has won twice second-up. Three of its four career wins have come on a good track and despite drifting from $5.50 to $6 in the betting, it looms as a major winning chance.
The Bandit is unbeaten in two second-up starts and it was seen doing its best work late last start at Moonee Valley. The well-regarded horse for John Sadler is stepping up in class which does make it tough, but it drops from 60kg to 54kg for this and gets senior rider Craig Williams in the saddle. Handy chance at $4.60.
Race 2 tip: Assign to win ($6) at CrownBet.com.au
Race 3 – Moniel Sambor Tile Importer Handicap (1700m)
Pilote D’essai was far too short in the betting last time out, but punters are getting a better price here. The imported gelding has finished in behind Royal Rapture in consecutive starts and will again have to get past it, but it’s well weighted at 54kg for this. The $4.60 is a better price for punters to take and watch for it flashing home late.
Royal Rapture is in incredible form having won its last four starts and in fine style. The Darren Weir-trained gelding might be a seven-year-old, but it’s winning with ease over quality fields and it gets a much-needed 3kg claimer in the saddle. This is a tricky field, but consider at $3.80 after it opened at $4.
Mihany is a last start winner which scored by 3.5 lengths in fine style. The Hayes/Dabernig-trained gelding hasn’t run well in the past at Caulfield, but it runs best on a good track and it gets in with a light weight of 53.5kg so consider at $5.
Race 3 tip: Royal Rapture to win ($3.80) at Palmerbet.com
Race 4 – Inglis Cup (2000m)
Pay Up Bro has returned from a spell in great condition. The John Moloney-trained gelding scored nicely second-up before repeating the dose with a three-length win at Pakenham last time out. This is a rise in class, but it contested good races last season and punters are respecting it as the favourite at $2.60.
So Willie has been supported into $5 despite having won only twice from 19 starts. The Chris Waller-trained gelding makes the trip from Sydney having run fourth behind Signposted at Randwick and bookmakers are giving that form line plenty of respect. We couldn’t back it at that price, but respect the market indication.
Craven Image is making a big rise in grade, but its career is off to a great start. The Darren Weir-trained gelding has won its last two starts and it looks a natural staying type. Weir isn’t the trainer to start his horses out of their grade for no reason and it has been backed in from $11 into $8.50.
Race 4 tip: Pay Up Bro to win ($2.60) at Sportsbet.com.au
Race 5 – Schweppes Thousand Guineas Prelude (1400m)
Missrock wasn’t disgraced when sixth at Flemington last start and it could find quick improvement. The Robbie Laing-trained filly is stepping up over 1400m for the first time, but it should appreciate it based on the breeding. Drawing barrier 13 isn’t going to make it easy, but it has the ability to settle back and swoop late. Consider at each way odds of $15.
Whispering Brook is a quality filly from Perth which only narrowly went down behind Merriest at Moonee Valley last start. The form from the Atlantic Jewel should stack up well and it has been one of the better backed runners of the day. It opened at $4.50 and is currently at $3.10 after a stack of support and it could score its sixth win from only seven starts.
Sebring Dream didn’t have the best of luck last start and its win prior must be considered as good form. The Hayes/Dabernig-trained filly could fly under the radar here at $8, but there’s nothing wrong with its form. It finished only 1.5 lengths behind I Am A Star on debut and that form has been franked. It won well second-up and it had no room to move at Moonee Valley. Drawn well with a light weight so consider at the each way price.
Race 5 tip: Sebring Dream to place ($2.60) at CrownBet.com.au
Race 6 – Caulfield Guineas Prelude (1400m)
New Zealand three-year-old Saracino was too tough for them at Flemington last start and it looks a real Guineas type. The Murray Baker-trained colt won the Foxbridge Plate at Te Rapa as a maiden runner two starts back and it looked the goods when winning the Danehill Stakes last start. Up in distance, but there’s plenty more in store for the Kiwi raider.
Fellow New Zealander Sacred Elixir was a quality winner of the Group 1 J.J. Atkins at Eagle Farm last start and despite a slight drift in the betting, it looks a top winning chance here. The Tony Pike-trained gelding is suited over this distance as it likes to get back and run on, so expect similar tactics on Saturday. $7 is a good price considering the form it brings in.
Archives was beaten by Saracino last start, but it looked to have improvement left in it. The John O’Shea-trained colt doesn’t know how to put it all together just yet, but if it does it could mature into a solid type. The son of Helmut has drawn awkwardly in barrier 12 so it will have to work early, but don’t rule it out at $4.80.
Race 6 tip: Saracino to win ($5) at Bet365.com.au
Race 7 – Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes (1400m)
Counterattack is a four-win horse for Chris Waller which finished a game second in the Theo Marks last start. The four-year-old won the Fred Best Classic three starts back over subsequent winner Takedown and although it has little second-up form, it has been well backed at $3.50 and it should run a good race.
Voodoo Lad produced one of the best performances this season at Moonee Valley last start. The Darren Weir-trained sprinter was slow out of the barriers, but flew home late to beat Keen Array which has since won. This is another step up in class, but it’s in career-best form and the 54kg makes it a dangerous prospect. Nothing wrong with the $5.50 available.
Well Sprung has been specked at odds following its big performance in the Testa Rossa Stakes. The four-year-old flashed home for second and its weight of 52kg makes it a winning chance. Bookmakers opened it up at $51, but that was quickly shortened into $26.
Race 7 tip: Voodoo Lad to win ($5.50) at WilliamHill.com.au
Race 8 – Hyland Race Colours Underwood Stakes (1800m)
Black Heart Bart is a 13-time winner which can’t be dropped after running second in the Makybe Diva Stakes last start. The multiple group one winner is unbeaten in two starts at Caulfield and it will put itself in the race and give punters a good sight. After opening at $2.50 it has been backed into $2.30 where it remains steady.
Lucia Valentina was a winner second up last preparation which came in the Group 1 Queen Elizabeth at Randwick. The Kris Lees-trained mare wasn’t far behind Winx last start in the Warwick Stakes and it looks a major winning threat to the favourite. $4.40 is a good price for a quality mare which will be putting in the big bounds late.
Awesome Rock was awesome last start when winning the Dato Tan Chin Nam Stakes. The five-year-old has placed four times from seven starts and its two-length win last start is a good guide for this. Not quite up to winning a group one, but there have been better group one fields.
Race 8 tip: Lucia Valentina to win ($4.40) at Sportsbet.com.au
Race 9 – Mypunter Handicap (1100m)
Sheidel won its only start on this track which came in the Bel Esprit Stakes last April. The Hayes/Dabernig-trained mare wasn’t far behind Wild Rain last start and its a professional winner of 12 from 21 starts. It showed its class by finishing second in the Sangster and the apprentice claim helps for this. $7.50 available with bookmakers.
Hellbent has returned to its best form with Darren Weir having won two of its last three starts. The four-year-old was a 1.5-length winner last start at Sale and although this is a step up in grade, it has contested tougher fields. It won the Inglis Dash at Flemington in January and that class could see it through at $3.80.
Rageese had no luck in the Fred Best Classic last start, but its win prior came by 4.2 lengths and that should be a strong form guide. The Weir-trained horse didn’t fire in the bigger races this year, but it has always had ability and the $6 is a decent price.
Race 9 tip: Hellbent to win ($3.80) at CrownBet.com.au