The Group 1 Underwood Stakes is the feature race on the Caulfield card this Saturday, and we have an Underwood Stakes final field, barriers, and runner-by-runner betting guide.
Cosmic Crusader is the current favourite with Underwood Stakes odds, but it’s an intriguing field for the 1800m feature race during the Melbourne Spring Carnival.
Underwood Stakes Final Field & Barrier Draw
| 1. Lindermann (1) J: Blake Shinn 59kg 22×91 T: Chris Waller | |||
| Dual acceptor. Third-up today and won third-up previously. First-up struggled in the run home; 9th of 11 in the G1 Winx Stakes at Randwick on August 22 over 1400m, slow going 7 len behind Autumn Glow with 59kg at $51. Last start favourite; won by 1.75 len in the G2 Chelmsford Stakes at Randwick on September 5 over 1600m defeating Ceolwulf with 59kg at $2.70. Well placed. Will control the tempo and that makes him very hard to catch. | |||
| 2. Buckaroo (7) J: Mark Zahra 59kg x25x5 T: Chris Waller | |||
| Second-up. First-up after six months 5th of 12 in the G1 Memsie Stakes at this track on August 29 over 1400m, slow going 4 len behind Beiwacht with 59kg at $101. Previously second-up 5th of 7 in the G2 Peter Young Stakes at this track on March 14 over 1800m, 6 len behind Birdman with 59kg at $2.25. Loves this race and will be charging home. | |||
| 3. Attrition (6) J: Jamie Mott 59kg 80×90 T: Mitchell Freedman | |||
| Third-up today and placed third-up previously. First-up 9th of 11 in the G2 PB Lawrence Stakes at this track on August 15 over 1400m, slow going 6 len behind Cosmic Crusader with 59kg at $101. Last start 11th of 16 in a LR Heatherlie Stakes at this track on August 29 over 1700m, slow going 8 len behind Kingswood carrying 61kg at $71. This is too tough. | |||
| 4. Pinstriped (2) J: Lachlan Neindorf 59kg 5×442 T: Enver Jusufovic | |||
| At the latest run raced on the pace when 2nd of 9 in a So You Think at Sandown-Hillside on September 5 over 1500m, on a slow track; 1.75 len behind Evaporate with 57kg at $7.50. The start before that 4th of 11 in the G2 PB Lawrence Stakes at this track on August 15 over 1400m, slow going 2.25 len behind Cosmic Crusader with 59kg at $31. Going well but this is tough. | |||
| 5. Cosmic Crusader (3) J: William Pike 59kg 2×113 T: Andrea Leek | |||
| Racing well recently. Last start 3rd of 12 in the G1 Memsie Stakes at this track on August 29 over 1400m, slow going 3.5 len behind Beiwacht with 59kg at $3.30. The start before that favourite; came from midfield and won by 0.8 len in the G2 PB Lawrence Stakes at this track on August 15 over 1400m on a rain affected track defeating Private Eye with 59kg at $2.50. Well placed. Can settle much closer this time and prove very hard to beat. | |||
| 6. Birdman (4) J: Ben Melham 59kg 521×6 T: Chris Waller | |||
| Second run back. First-up after three months eased back early on 6th of 12 in the G1 Memsie Stakes at this track on August 29 over 1400m, on a slow track; 4.5 len behind Beiwacht with 59kg at $61. Previously second-up won by 1.75 len in the G2 Blamey Stakes at Flemington on February 28 over 1600m defeating Enxuto with 57kg at $3.50. Lovely return and sets up well to 1800m here. | |||
| 7. Middle Earth (5) J: Ethan Brown 59kg 891×8 T: Ciaron Maher | |||
| Second-up. First-up after four months 8th of 16 in a LR Heatherlie Stakes at this track on August 29 over 1700m, slow going 5 len behind Kingswood with 61.5kg at $41. Previously second-up 9th of 14 in the G3 Hawkesbury Gold Cup on May 2 over 1600m, 2 len behind Churchill’s Choice with 59.5kg at $51. Risking. | |||
| 8. Kingswood (8) J: John Allen 59kg 125×1 T: Gavin Bedggood | |||
| Second run back. First-up after six months came from midfield and won by 0.8 len in a LR Heatherlie Stakes at this track on August 29 over 1700m on a rain affected track defeating Just Folk with 61kg at $21. Previously second-up 8th of 14 in the G2 Hill Stakes at Rosehill on October 11 over 1900m, 4 len behind Lindermann carrying 59kg at $7.50. Tough win fresh, this is tougher. | |||
| 9. Aeliana (6) Scratched: | |||
Cosmic Crusader has drawn perfectly with the Underwood Stakes barrier draw. The race favourite has drawn barrier 3, which should allow William Pike to get his mount into the ideal position.
Lindermann also draws favourably in barrier 1, but his odds have drifted to $3.30 after touching $3.10 in early betting.
Because the field is only nine runners, no reason are inconvenienced by the draw, so it’s an open Group 1 contest.
Underwood Stakes Form Guide 2026
The Sydney-based runner was impressive when winning at Randwick last time out, although he faced a different level of opposition on that occasion. He was able to control the race from the front, but things could be considerably tougher if he comes under pressure in the Underwood Stakes. He has yet to run well at Caulfield, and that’s a concern when taking the short odds.
| 1. Lindermann (1) J: Blake Shinn 59kg 22×91 T: Chris Waller | |||
| Dual acceptor. Third-up today and won third-up previously. First-up struggled in the run home; 9th of 11 in the G1 Winx Stakes at Randwick on August 22 over 1400m, slow going 7 len behind Autumn Glow with 59kg at $51. Last start favourite; won by 1.75 len in the G2 Chelmsford Stakes at Randwick on September 5 over 1600m defeating Ceolwulf with 59kg at $2.70. Well placed. Will control the tempo and that makes him very hard to catch. | |||
Buckaroo is certainly worth considering at the odds. He probably doesn’t need to find much improvement to be right in the finish, and his latest performance was solid enough to recommend. He also tends to produce some of his better efforts during the spring carnival. Expect him to settle around midfield before making his move late.
| 2. Buckaroo (7) J: Mark Zahra 59kg x25x5 T: Chris Waller | |||
| Second-up. First-up after six months 5th of 12 in the G1 Memsie Stakes at this track on August 29 over 1400m, slow going 4 len behind Beiwacht with 59kg at $101. Previously second-up 5th of 7 in the G2 Peter Young Stakes at this track on March 14 over 1800m, 6 len behind Birdman with 59kg at $2.25. Loves this race and will be charging home. | |||
We can’t imagine there will be any interest in his triple-figure odds. He is not running well, and connections are just trying to get his confidence back, so he’s not a winning chance in the Underwood Stakes.
| 3. Attrition (6) J: Jamie Mott 59kg 80×90 T: Mitchell Freedman | |||
| Third-up today and placed third-up previously. First-up 9th of 11 in the G2 PB Lawrence Stakes at this track on August 15 over 1400m, slow going 6 len behind Cosmic Crusader with 59kg at $101. Last start 11th of 16 in a LR Heatherlie Stakes at this track on August 29 over 1700m, slow going 8 len behind Kingswood carrying 61kg at $71. This is too tough. | |||
Pinstriped has been reasonably consistent this preparation and comes into the race after finishing second last start. That was a solid performance, although he has yet to prove that he can reproduce that form against Group 1 opposition. We liked to bet on him in shorter distance races, and stretching out to 1800m could prove too difficult at this stage of his career.
| 4. Pinstriped (2) J: Lachlan Neindorf 59kg 5×442 T: Enver Jusufovic | |||
| At the latest run raced on the pace when 2nd of 9 in a So You Think at Sandown-Hillside on September 5 over 1500m, on a slow track; 1.75 len behind Evaporate with 57kg at $7.50. The start before that 4th of 11 in the G2 PB Lawrence Stakes at this track on August 15 over 1400m, slow going 2.25 len behind Cosmic Crusader with 59kg at $31. Going well but this is tough. | |||
He heads into the Underwood Stakes as the short-priced favourite and has plenty going for him. He could easily have arrived here unbeaten this campaign after producing two outstanding victories before being forced to work wide in his latest run. That effort can be forgiven, and he has the ability to bounce back strongly. Barrier 3 with Pike riding is ideal, and the former Perth runner commands plenty of respect.
| 5. Cosmic Crusader (3) J: William Pike 59kg 2×113 T: Andrea Leek | |||
| Racing well recently. Last start 3rd of 12 in the G1 Memsie Stakes at this track on August 29 over 1400m, slow going 3.5 len behind Beiwacht with 59kg at $3.30. The start before that favourite; came from midfield and won by 0.8 len in the G2 PB Lawrence Stakes at this track on August 15 over 1400m on a rain affected track defeating Private Eye with 59kg at $2.50. Well placed. Can settle much closer this time and prove very hard to beat. | |||
He may be a little short at $6, but the support behind him in the betting is worth monitoring. His sixth-place finish when returning from a spell was better than the result suggests, and he’ll improve from it. Horses from the Chris Waller stable often attract plenty of attention, and he hasn’t been missed. That’s a good sign, so find room for him in picks.
| 6. Birdman (4) J: Ben Melham 59kg 521×6 T: Chris Waller | |||
| Second run back. First-up after three months eased back early on 6th of 12 in the G1 Memsie Stakes at this track on August 29 over 1400m, on a slow track; 4.5 len behind Beiwacht with 59kg at $61. Previously second-up won by 1.75 len in the G2 Blamey Stakes at Flemington on February 28 over 1600m defeating Enxuto with 57kg at $3.50. Lovely return and sets up well to 1800m here. | |||
Middle Earth appears to be using this race as part of a longer-term spring campaign, with his connections likely wanting some miles under his belt before he tackles the distance races. That’s why he’s paying $67 to win, and we have no interest in taking those odds with Underwood Stakes betting.
| 7. Middle Earth (5) J: Ethan Brown 59kg 891×8 T: Ciaron Maher | |||
| Second-up. First-up after four months 8th of 16 in a LR Heatherlie Stakes at this track on August 29 over 1700m, slow going 5 len behind Kingswood with 61.5kg at $41. Previously second-up 9th of 14 in the G3 Hawkesbury Gold Cup on May 2 over 1600m, 2 len behind Churchill’s Choice with 59.5kg at $51. Risking. | |||
Kingswood is one of the more intriguing runners in the field. He has shown that this distance suits him, and his impressive victory at Caulfield last start caught the eye. That performance is difficult to ignore, but it didn’t come at Group 1 level, so it’s hard to assess how good it was. He might be better suited to the Caulfield Cup next month.
| 8. Kingswood (8) J: John Allen 59kg 125×1 T: Gavin Bedggood | |||
| Second run back. First-up after six months came from midfield and won by 0.8 len in a LR Heatherlie Stakes at this track on August 29 over 1700m on a rain affected track defeating Just Folk with 61kg at $21. Previously second-up 8th of 14 in the G2 Hill Stakes at Rosehill on October 11 over 1900m, 4 len behind Lindermann carrying 59kg at $7.50. Tough win fresh, this is tougher. | |||
Aeliana is perhaps the hardest runner in the field to assess from a tactical perspective. She possesses plenty of ability when things fall her way, but very little went right for her in Sydney last start. She needs to improve on that run, but there is no denying her top-end ability, so she can’t be ruled out.
| 9. Aeliana (6) Scratched: | |||