{"id":91365,"date":"2026-09-18T11:22:45","date_gmt":"2026-09-18T01:22:45","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.neds.com.au\/blog\/?p=91365"},"modified":"2026-09-18T11:22:48","modified_gmt":"2026-09-18T01:22:48","slug":"underwood-stakes-2026-betting-tips-predictions-favourites","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.neds.com.au\/blog\/2026\/09\/underwood-stakes-2026-betting-tips-predictions-favourites\/","title":{"rendered":"Underwood Stakes 2026 Betting Tips, Predictions & Favourites"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

The road to the Caulfield Cup <\/a>tightens at Caulfield this weekend, with several key spring players stepping out in a high\u2011quality Group 1 \u2014 and the Neds form analysts have you covered with our insider 2026 Underwood Stakes betting tips, predictions and favourites <\/strong>for the $1 million weight\u2011for\u2011age showdown.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"2026
Cosmic Crusader is favourite in 2026 Underwood Stakes betting this weekend. Photo: Ultimate Racing Photos.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The Group 1 Underwood Stakes<\/a> (1800m) traditionally acts as a major spring launching pad, and this year\u2019s edition again features horses with genuine Caulfield Cup and Cox Plate<\/a> ambitions. With form lines converging from the Makybe Diva, Feehan and early\u2011spring WFA races, punters get a perfect read on who\u2019s trending upwards \u2014 and who\u2019s vulnerable \u2014 heading into the heart of the carnival.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This year\u2019s Underwood Stakes favourites are headed by WA star Cosmic Crusader, the fit horse in the compact field and already a proven Group 1 winner at the trip. His Melbourne form has been rock\u2011solid all prep, and he looks perfectly placed to bounce back rising to 1800m.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Chris Waller supplies the biggest danger in Lindermann, fresh off a Chelmsford Stakes defence and right at home stretching to a staying journey. The stable also rolls out Birdman \u2014 a Cox Plate hopeful who\u2019ll relish second\u2011up conditions \u2014 plus Buckaroo, the 2024 champion and a genuine each\u2011way contender.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Add in Kingswood, the Heatherlie Handicap winner and a potentially overlooked roughie, and you\u2019ve got a deep, high\u2011quality Underwood Stakes despite the small field.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Below you\u2019ll find our full Underwood Stakes 2026 preview, plus Same Race Multi selections to give you more bang for your buck!<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Underwood Stakes Favourites & Best Bets<\/h2>\n\n\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
<\/use><\/svg><\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n
\n
\n
Favourite & Best Bet<\/div>\n
No. 5 Cosmic Crusader<\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div> \n <\/div> \n
\n

COSMIC CRUSADER (5)<\/strong> is the one you don\u2019t need to overthink in the 2026 Underwood Stakes, and despite the late push for Lindermann, he remains the deserving favourite \u2014 the proven Caulfield performer and the fit horse in a small but classy Group 1.<\/p>\n

The Kiwi\u2011bred Maurice gelding has been a revelation for Andrea Leek this prep, and all three of his Caulfield runs have been top\u2011tier.<\/p>\n

The WA expat is already a Group 1 winner at 1800m, having narrowly claimed the Northerly Stakes<\/a> last December, and he\u2019s only improved since relocating to Melbourne.<\/p>\n

Fresh, he put them away with a 2.5\u2011length Group 3 Bletchingly<\/a> win, then backed it up with a strong PB Lawrence Stakes<\/a> victory over Private Eye and Evaporate.<\/p>\n

He stuck to 1400m for the Group 1 Memsie<\/a> at his latest and was far from disgraced, finishing three lengths third behind runaway winner Beiwacht.<\/p>\n

Fourth\u2011up now, he\u2019s ready to peak.<\/p>\n

The rise to 1800m is perfect at this stage of his campaign, and with Willie Pike sticking from gate three, he maps to land closer than he did last start and stay within striking distance.<\/p>\n

He\u2019s tough, he\u2019s fit, he\u2019s proven at the trip \u2014 and he\u2019s the one they all have to beat.<\/p>\n

Wins.<\/p>\n

Caulfield R7 – Henley Homes Underwood Stakes (G1)<\/span> <\/div>
Open<\/span> Race time: <\/span> <\/span> <\/div> <\/div> <\/div>
<\/colgroup>
<\/div> <\/div> <\/td>
5. Cosmic Crusader (3)<\/span>
J: William Pike<\/span> 59kg<\/span><\/div>
2×113<\/span> T: Andrea Leek<\/span> <\/div> <\/div> <\/div> <\/div> <\/td>
2.60<\/span>WIN<\/span><\/div> <\/a> <\/div>
1.22<\/span>PLACE<\/span><\/div> <\/a> <\/div> <\/div> <\/td> <\/tr>
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.<\/td> <\/tr> <\/tbody> <\/table> <\/div>
Odds are subject to fluctuation. For current odds on all of our live racing markets, please visit www.neds.com.au\/racing<\/span><\/a>. Data retrieved: 18\/09\/2026 12:22:33 PM (Australia\/Brisbane) <\/div> <\/div> <\/section>
\n Bet Now: Cosmic Crusader<\/a>\n <\/div>\n <\/div> \n <\/div> \n<\/section>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
\n