The AFL Grand Final will have been run and won and there really is no better way to nurse our hangovers than to get stuck into some Group 1 racing at Caulfield.
The feature event of the day is the Underwood Stakes but we have sunk our teeth into all nine races.
Our 2019 Underwood Stakes Day Tips and Preview can be found below.
This is the toughest test of Annarbor’s race career to date but she is absolutely flying at the moment. The Noonan camp has decided to have a throw at the stumps and although I don’t think she gets in well at the weight scale, she is a winning chance in a race that lacks a lot of depth.
$21 seems a ridiculous price for a horse that was only narrowly denied in open class company last start at Flemington. She Knows came from last with a huge run behind Milwaukee and is worth an each way play.
Algadon Miss is a consistent mare who knows how to win. She has won five of her nine career race starts and is coming off back to back wins. Again, looks over the odds.
I am a fan of Plein Ciel. He always to give his best effort and he is a winner. He has been well placed throughout his career and I think the 1700m suits first up.
Qafila is a quality animal and her first up effort behind Age Of Chivarly was very good before she was outclassed at Group 1 level at Flemington last start. She can bounce back with a win with the step up in distance a big plus.
The form coming out of Adelaide has been exceptional of late and Wagering War can bring that east again. He was beaten only two lengths behind Dalasan at Morphettville and I think the step back in distance suits.
It’s apparent to everyone how much ability Dalasan has and his win down the Flemington straight last start was ultra impressive. He still gets a little lost but when he knuckles down to the task, his best is probably better than these.
I thought Creator’s last run at Flemington was full of merit when he stormed home down the outside from near last to finish on the heels of Legionnaire. $26 looks overs for me.
William Thomas was the best performance to come out of the Caulfield meeting last weekend and that makes Lyre’s performance excellent in my opinion. She is a leading contender in this off the short back up.
Godolphin has a strong hand in the Thousand Guineas Prelude and Flit make be the best filly he has. She at least has a heap of upside and I’m willing to bet she can put these others to the sword here.
I’ve looked at the two main lead up races to this group 1 Underwood in the Makybe Diva and Feehan Stakes a dozen times each and I just can’t see why Gatting can’t win again. We all simply got it wrong in the MD. The bookies, the tipsters and the punters. Every other horse was given every chance and the best runs in behind Gatting for Mystic Journey and Mr Quickie, both of whom are not in this contest. Hartnell ran well but he always seems to fall just short in these big Group 1s. You won’t get $101 about Gatting this time but he still looks the best play in the race.
Find a couple more at nice each way odds here. Brave Song was competitive in some much better races than this during the Winter Carnival in Brisbane and has a great fresh record.
Haunted was enormous behind Begood Toya Mother last start which has turned out to be pretty good form! He is also over the odds.
My best of the day comes in the last. Tarwin drops down considerably in grade from his last start 9th where he flashed home from last behind Rox The Castle. He has won three of his five race starts to date and I’m confident he is better than this grade of racing. With even luck, we should finish the day with a win!