Underwood Stakes attracts star nominations
Saturday’s Group 1 Underwood Stakes (1800m) has attracted a star-studded set of nominations for the $750,000 event at Caulfield Racecourse.
Two former Melbourne Cup winners, seven Group 1 winners and plenty of fancies for some of the big spring features are amongst the nominations for the Group 1 feature.
Heading the nominations is last year’s Melbourne Cup victor, Gold Trip, who heads to Caulfield following an eye-catching return at Moonee Valley on September 9.
Joining him is 2019 Melbourne Cup champion Vow And Declare, who is set to return to the track for the first time this spring.
Without A Fight is another set to resume his racing career on Saturday, having not been seen since his dominant win in the Group 2 Q22 (2200m) at Eagle Farm on June 10.
All-in markets with online bookmakers have the Anthony & Sam Freedman-trained runner as a +250 favourite.
Having finished second to Mr Brightside in the Group 1 Makybe Diva Stakes (1600m) last Saturday, Alligator Blood is a chance to back up in the Underwood Stakes, with a decision set to be made later in the week.
Other notable nominations include Attrition, Lindermann, Soulcombe and Duais.
The final field for the 2023 Underwood Stakes is set to be released at 11am on Wednesday morning.
Underwood Stakes 2023 nominations
| # | Horse | Trainer |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Alaskan God | Daniel Morton |
| 2 | Alenquer | Mike Moroney |
| 3 | Alligator Blood | Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott |
| 4 | Attrition | Mitchell Freedman |
| 5 | Bank Maur | Richard Laming |
| 6 | Deny Knowledge | Michael Kent |
| 7 | Duais | Edward Cummings |
| 8 | Duke De Sessa | Ciaron Maher & David Eustace |
| 9 | El Bodegon | Chris Waller |
| 10 | Forgot You | Trent Busuttin & Natalie Young |
| 11 | Gold Trip | Ciaron Maher & David Eustace |
| 12 | Goldman | Ciaron Maher & David Eustace |
| 13 | Lindermann | Chris Waller |
| 14 | Lunar Flare | Grahame Begg |
| 15 | Mo’unga | Annabel Neasham |
| 16 | Nonconformist | Grahame Begg |
| 17 | Pinstriped | Enver Jusufovic |
| 18 | Pounding | Peter Moody & Katherine Coleman |
| 19 | Right You Are | Ciaron Maher & David Eustace |
| 20 | She’s Fit | Daniel Morton |
| 21 | Smokin’ Romans | Ciaron Maher & David Eustace |
| 22 | Soulcombe | Chris Waller |
| 23 | Tuvalu | Lindsey Smith |
| 24 | Virtuous Circle | Liam Howley |
| 25 | Vow And Declare | Danny O’Brien |
| 26 | Without A Fight | Anthony & Sam Freedman |