Looking for this year’s top Underwood Stakes betting odds, form guide and tips? The expert tipsters at Neds have put together everything you need to know.
Underwood Stakes 2026 Results
The official 2026 Underwood Stakes results will be available below once the race takes place on Saturday, September 19, 2026.
- #6 Birdman
- #5 Cosmic Crusader
- #3 Attrition
The 2026 Underwood Stakes results at Caulfield was a spring carnival coming-out party for Birdman ($6), with the Chris Waller-trained Irish import producing a devastating turn of foot to score a dominant 1.75 length Group 1 victory over hot favourite Cosmic Crusader ($2.25F), while outsider Attrition ($101) ran on for third. Partnered by Ben Melham, the son of Free Eagle enjoyed the perfect trail before exploding clear in the straight to secure his second elite-level triumph and cement his status as a genuine Ladbrokes Cox Plate contender. Connections have now confirmed the Group 1 Ladbrokes Cox Plate (2040m) on October 24 as his next assignment, with the Waller camp confident the weight-for-age championship is tailor-made for his explosive acceleration. Punters were equally impressed, with Neds slashing Birdman’s Cox Plate odds from $26 into $6, elevating the European-bred star among the leading chances for Australia’s premier middle-distance race after one of the most commanding Group 1 performances of the spring.
2026 Underwood Stakes Race Replay
2026 Underwood Stakes Odds & Finishing Order
The 2026 Underwood Stakes odds are already sparking interest as punters assess which proven weight‑for‑age stars and emerging middle‑distance talents are primed to strike early in the spring. Early Underwood Stakes odds 2026 at Neds generally favour horses with strong 1600–2000m credentials, sharp trial form and established WFA profiles, especially those being set for Cox Plate‑type campaigns. With key runners resuming, second‑up improvers ready to elevate, and market movers revealing stable confidence, Underwood Stakes betting 2026 offers punters a valuable read on the new season’s middle‑distance hierarchy. Tracking tempo influences, barrier draws and early market shifts is essential for spotting overs before the field locks in and the spring stars emerge.
The latest Underwood Stakes odds followed by the official race finishing order after the event will be available below.
Underwood Stakes 2026 Results
| 6. Birdman (4) J: Ben Melham 59kg 521×6 T: Chris Waller | ||
| 5. Cosmic Crusader (3) J: William Pike 59kg 2×113 T: Andrea Leek | ||
| 3. Attrition (6) J: Jamie Mott 59kg 80×90 T: Mitchell Freedman | ||
| 8. Kingswood (8) J: John Allen 59kg 125×1 T: Gavin Bedggood | ||
| 2. Buckaroo (7) J: Mark Zahra 59kg x25x5 T: Chris Waller | ||
| 4. Pinstriped (2) J: Lachlan Neindorf 59kg 5×442 T: Enver Jusufovic | ||
| 7. Middle Earth (5) J: Ethan Brown 59kg 891×8 T: Ciaron Maher | ||
| 1. Lindermann (1) J: Blake Shinn 59kg 22×91 T: Chris Waller |
Underwood Stakes 2026 Tips
Our insider 2026 Underwood Stakes betting tips will be detailed here the week of the race and a complete preview post available on the Neds Blog.
| 5. Cosmic Crusader (3) J: William Pike 59kg 2×113 T: Andrea Leek |
| 1. Lindermann (1) J: Blake Shinn 59kg 22×91 T: Chris Waller |
| 8. Kingswood (8) J: John Allen 59kg 125×1 T: Gavin Bedggood |
Latest News
The Underwood Stakes runs at Caulfield Racecourse late September on the same day as Sydney’s $1 million 7 Stakes race.
A Group 1 race contested over 1800m the Underwood Stakes serves as a key lead-up into the Australasian weight-for-age championship, the Group 1 Cox Plate (2040m) held at Moonee Valley a month later.
So You Think (2010) was the last galloper to complete the Underwood Stakes – Cox Plate double, while more recently the 2020 Underwood Stakes winner Russian Camelot went on to run third in that year’s Cox Plate trifecta.
The 2021 Underwood Stakes winner Zaaki was scratched from that year’s Cox Plate as the favourite on race day morning, but atoned winning the Group 1 Mackinnon Stakes (2000m) during the Melbourne Cup Carnival. Zaaki further franked the Underwood form the following autumn returning to win the 2022 The All-Star Mile.
Zaaki returned and ran third in the 2022 Underwood Stakes results before continuing on to successfully defend his Mackinnon Stakes (VRC Champions Stakes) title. Alligator Blood won the 2022 Underwood Stakes and also won at Flemington that Melbourne Cup Carnival taking out the Group 1 Champions Mile (1600m).
Alligator Blood returned to go back-to-back in the 2023 Underwood Stakes becoming the event’s first multiple winner on consecutive years since Northerly (2001-02). Alligator Blood went on to win the Group 1 Might And Power (2000m) franking the form.
The 2023 Underwood Stakes also produced that year’s Caulfield Cup winner with the sixth placegetter Without A Fight improving to take out the mile-and-a-half classic the following month.
Without A Fight went on to become the latest horse to complete the Caulfield Cup – Melbourne Cup double in 2023, while Alligator Blood franked the form with thirds in the Cox Plate and Champions Mile that spring.
The 2024 Underwood Stakes winner Buckaroo would run back-to-back Group 1 seconds in the Turnbull Stakes and Caulfield Cup at his next two starts.
Buckaroo returned to run a close second in 2025 behind exciting import Sir Delius who went on to complete the Underwood Stakes – Turnbull Stakes double.
Underwood Stakes 2026 – Fast Facts
- Race Day: Saturday, September 19, 2026
- Track: Caulfield Racecourse
- Surface: Turf
- Direction: Right-handed
- Distance: 1800m
- Weight Class: Weight for Age
- Qualification: Three-year-olds and over (Maidens ineligible)
- Type: Thoroughbred
- Grade: Group 1
- Operator: Melbourne Racing Club
- Purse: $1 million
- Inaugural Race: 1924
- 2026 Underwood Stakes Winner: Birdman
Underwood Stakes Betting 2026
There are many different ways to bet on the Underwood Stakes, and we have included some of the most popular options below:
| Bet Type | How to Place This Type of Bet on This Year’s Underwood Stakes |
|---|---|
| Win Bet | Place your bet on the horse you think will take first place in this year’s Underwood Stakes. |
| Place Bet | Place your bet on the horse you think will place in the top three finishers at this year’s Underwood Stakes. Pays less than a win bet but offers safer odds. |
| Each-Way Bet | If your runner finishes 1st in the Underwood Stakes, you will collect both the Win and the Place dividend. If your horse finishes 2nd or 3rd you will collect the Place dividend. |
| Quinella Bet | You must select the runners that finish 1st and 2nd in any order, within the Underwood Stakes, in order to win the Quinella. |
| Exacta Bet | You must select the runners that finish 1st and 2nd in the correct order, within the Underwood Stakes to win the Exacta. |
| Trifecta Bet | You must select runners to finish 1st, 2nd and 3rd in the correct order, within the Underwood Stakes to win the Trifecta. |
| First Four | You must select runners that finish 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th in the correct order, within the Underwood Stakes to win the First 4. |
| Quadrella Bet (Quaddie) | You must select the winners of four nominated races to win the Quaddie. This means you would have to select three other races apart from the Underwood Stakes, in order to be eligible to place a Quaddie. |
How to Bet on The Underwood Stakes in 2026
- Join up at neds
- Make a deposit, using your credit card, PayPal or other safe electronic method
- Make sure to check out the form guide, once it’s released
- Decide what kind of bet you’re going to place (Win, Place, Each-Way, Trifecta + more betting options
- Select the horse(s) for the race.
Which Horse Will Win the Underwood Stakes in 2026
Picking which horse will win the Underwood Stakes in 2026 comes down to factors including the barrier draw, lead-up form of the runners and their records at the track / distance.
Other important things to note when picking out an Underwood Stakes winner include:
- Lay The Favourite – Favourites in Underwood Stakes betting have a poor record in the race with just five saluting since 2010 most recently Zaaki ($1.18 in 2021) followed by Alligator Blood ($3.60 in 2023) for his second and Sir Delius ($2.10 in 2025).
- Inside Alleys – Very few Underwood Stakes winners in the past decade have jumped from wider than barrier nine.
- Trans-Tasman – Kiwi horses have an excellent recent record in the race.
Underwood Stakes 2026 Favourites
The Underwood Stakes favourites for 2026 include Chris Waller’s Spring Cups-bound Birdman, talented Perth expat Cosmic Crusader who has been excellent in Melbourne this time in and Waller’s 2024 champion Buckaroo who was also runner-up in the event last year.
Since 2010 only five favourites in Underwood Stakes betting have saluted for the punters, most recently Russian Camelot ($1.55 in 2020) followed by Zaaki ($1.18 in 2021), Alligator Blood ($3.60 in 2023) for his second and the fellow Waterhouse/Bott trained Sir Delius ($2.10 in 2025).
Underwood Stakes 2026 Field
The official Underwood Stakes 2026 field of final acceptances is announced the week of the race and will be available below as soon as announced.
The Underwood Stakes 2026 final field features a compact but class line-up of just nine potential Caulfield Cup-bound stayers including the dual Chelmsford Stakes winner Lindermann, his Doomben Cup winning stablemate Birdman and Andrea Leek’s Group 1 champ Cosmic Crusader presenting fit fourth-up in Melbourne.
| Entrant | Last 6 | Sex | Barrier | Weight | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
1. Lindermann
J: Blake Shinn
T: Chris Waller |
922×91 | G | 1 | 59kg | |
|
2. Buckaroo
J: Mark Zahra
T: Chris Waller |
0x25x5 | G | 7 | 59kg | |
|
3. Attrition
J: Jamie Mott
T: Mitchell Freedman |
x80x90 | H | 6 | 59kg | |
|
4. Pinstriped
J: Lachlan Neindorf
T: Enver Jusufovic |
45×442 | G | 2 | 59kg | |
|
5. Cosmic Crusader
J: William Pike
T: Andrea Leek |
12×113 | G | 3 | 59kg | |
|
6. Birdman
J: Ben Melham
T: Chris Waller |
1521×6 | G | 4 | 59kg | |
|
7. Middle Earth
J: Ethan Brown
T: Ciaron Maher |
x891x8 | G | 5 | 59kg | |
|
8. Kingswood
J: John Allen
T: Gavin Bedggood |
4125×1 | H | 8 | 59kg | |
| 9. Aeliana (6) Scratched: | |||||
Underwood Stakes 2026 Race Day
2026 Underwood Stakes Day is scheduled for Saturday, September 19, 2026 at Caulfield Racecourse. The other key events on the card include the:
- Group 1 $1,000,000 Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes (1400m),
- Group 2 $300,000 Thousand Guineas Prelude (1400m),
- Group 3 $300,000 Caulfield Guineas Prelude (1400m),
- Group 3 $200,000 How Now Stakes (1200m), and the
- Group 3 $200,000 Naturalism Stakes (2000m).
Underwood Stakes 2026 Nominations
2026 Underwood Stakes nominations close at 12PM on the Monday of race week.
The Underwood Stakes 2026 nominations attracted 15 potential Caufield Cup types led in all-in betting by Chris Waller’s Doomben Cup champ from the winter Birdman and the flying Andrea Leek-trained PB Lawrence winner Cosmic Crusader who won Perth’s Group 1 Northerly Stakes over this distance last prep.
Underwood Stakes 2026 Weights
Final weights will be announced by 4 PM on the Monday of race week. Standard weight-for-age conditions apply. 2026 Underwood Stakes weights on the final acceptors will be published in our above Underwood Stakes Field section.
Underwood Stakes 2026 Acceptances
2026 Underwood Stakes final acceptances will be announced by 9:30 AM on the Wednesday of race week. The official Underwood Stakes acceptances will be available in our above Underwood Stakes Field section.
Underwood Stakes 2026 Jockeys
Rider selections will be announced by 2 PM on the Wednesday of race week. The official 2026 Underwood Stakes jockeys will be available in our above Underwood Stakes Field section.
Underwood Stakes 2026 Scratchings
2026 Underwood Stakes scratchings must be announced by 7:30 AM on Saturday, September 19, 2026.
- No. 9 Aeliana (6)
Underwood Stakes Prize Money 2026
The 2026 Underwood Stakes prize money is set at a total of $1 million with prize money paid from first to eighth.
| Place | Prize Money |
|---|---|
| 1st | $600,000 |
| 2nd | $180,000 |
| 3rd | $90,000 |
| 4th | $45,000 |
| 5th | $25,000 |
| 6th | $20,000 |
| 7th | $20,000 |
| 8th | $20,000 |
Underwood Stakes Race Number 2026
The 2026 Underwood Stakes race number is scheduled as Caulfield Race 7 at 3:35pm (AEST) on Saturday, September 19, 2026. A total of ten races runs at Caulfield Racecourse.
Underwood Stakes 2026 Form Guide
The final form guide will be available the week of the race. You can check below for a link to our full 2026 Underwood Stakes Form Guide following final acceptances.
Underwood Stakes Live 2026
You can watch or listen to the 2026 Underwood Stakes live, across the following mediums.
Pay television: Sky Racing 1 (channel 526 on Foxtel)
Radio: Radio Sport National
Streaming: Racing.com
Online: Neds App
Underwood Stakes Winners (Past Results)
Winners of the Underwood Stakes dating back to 1983 are listed in the table below. To view a complete list of past Underwood Stakes winners from the race’s inauguration to the present – click here.
| Year | Winner | Jockey | Trainer/s | Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Birdman | Ben Melham | Chris Waller | 1:47.15 (R) |
| 2025 | Sir Delius | Craig Williams | Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott | 1:49.12 |
| 2024 | Buckaroo | Joao Moreira | Chris Waller | 1:49.00 |
| 2023 | Alligator Blood | Damien Oliver | Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott | 1:48.5 |
| 2022 | Alligator Blood | Tim Clark | Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott | 1:48.9 |
| 2021 | Zaaki | Craig Williams | Annabel Neasham | 1:49.2 |
| 2020 | Russian Camelot | Damien Oliver | Danny O’Brien | 1:50.8 |
| 2019 | Black Heart Bart | Brad Rawiller | Lindsey Smith | 1:49.2 |
| 2018 | Homesman | Ben Melham | Liam Howley | 1:48.7 |
| 2017 | Bonneval | Hugh Bowman | Murray Baker and Andrew Forsman | 1:48.4 |
| 2016 | Black Heart Bart | Brad Rawiller | Darren Weir | 1:50.6 |
| 2015 | Mourinho | Vlad Duric | Peter Gelagotis | 1:48.8 |
| 2014 | Foreteller | Glen Boss | Chris Waller | 1:50.2 |
| 2013 | It’s A Dundeel | James McDonald | M P BAKER | 1:54.7 |
| 2012 | Ocean Park | Glen Boss | G T Hennessy | 1:51.4 |
| 2011 | Lion Tamer | Michael Rodd | M P BAKER | 1:50.0 |
| 2010 | So You Think | Steven Arnold | Bart Cummings | 1:49.5 |
| 2009 | Heart of Dreams | Craig Newitt | Mick Price | 1:49.5 |
| 2008 | Weekend Hussler | Brad Rawiller | Ross McDonald | 1:49.8 |
| 2007 | Rubiscent | – | – | 1:49.0 |
| 2006 | El Segundo | – | – | 1.49.5 |
| 2005 | Perlin | D Nikolic | Graeme Rogerson | 1.52.7 |
| 2004 | Elvstrom | N Rawiller | Tony Vasil | 1.50.0 |
| 2003 | Mummify | D Nikolic | D L FREEDMAN | 1.49.5 |
| 2002 | Northerly | G J Childs | Fred Kersley | 1.48.9 |
| 2001 | Northerly | D Oliver | Fred Kersley | 1.50.2 |
| 2000 | Oliver Twist | G J Childs | B MAYFIELD-SMITH | – |
| 1999 | Intergaze | C Carmody | Rod Craig | – |
| 1998 | Tie the Knot | R S Dye | G H WALTER | – |
| 1997 | Always Aloof | D Nikolic | J D MORISH | – |
| 1996 | Octaganol | D Beadman | J R HAWKES | – |
| 1995 | Sharscay | D Gauci | Gerald Ryan | – |
| 1994 | Jeune | Rod Griffiths | P C HAYES | – |
| 1993 | Runyon | B Thomson | D L FREEDMAN | – |
| 1992 | Prince Salieri | S Scriven | G M HANLON | – |
| 1991 | Dr. Grace | R S Dye | DR G CHAPMAN | – |
| 1990 | The Phantom | G L Cooksley | MS P HARGREAVES | – |
| 1989 | Almaarad | M Clarke | C S HAYES | – |
| 1988 | Authaal | B Thomson | C S HAYES | – |
| 1987 | Rubiton | H White | P C BARNS | – |
| 1986 | Bonecrusher | G M Stewart | Frank Ritchie | – |
| 1985 | Tristarc | W Treloar | Ross McDonald | – |
| 1984 | Bounty Hawk | H White | Bart Cummings | – |
| 1983 | Trissaro | H White | Bart Cummings | – |