Caulfield Race 8 – 16:50 AEDT
OPEN Group 1
1800m
$750,000.00
Good 4
Rail true entire circuit
| Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Weight (kg) | Barrier | Current Price |
| 1. Black Heart Bart | Darren Weir | Brad Rawiller | 59.0 | 7 | $17.00 |
| 2. Humidor | Darren Weir | Damian Lane | 59.0 | 1 | $3.80 |
| 3. Ambitious | Anthony Freedman | Mark Zahra | 59.0 | 4 | $17.00 |
| 4. Tosen Basil | Darren Weir | J Allen | 59.0 | 3 | $61 |
| 5. Comin’ Through | Chris Waller | Michael Walker | 59.0 | 2 | $7.00 |
| 6. Pounamu | A D Mathews | Michael Dee | 59.0 | 6 | $151.00 |
| 7. Blair House | Charlie Appleby | James Mcdonald | 59.0 | 8 | $5.00 |
| 8. Homesman | Liam Howley | Ben Melham | 59.0 | 5 | $7.50 |
| 9. Grunt | Mick Price | Damien Oliver | 58.0 | 10 | $3.20 |
| 10. Bonneval | M Baker & A Forsman | Regan Bayliss | 57.0 | 9 | $21.00 |
Race Overview
The Underwood Stakes is one of Melbourne’s top weight-for-age staying races during the Spring in which many horses use as a launchpad into other staying races such as the Turnbull Stakes, Caulfield Cup or Melbourne Cup. The two previous winners Bonneval and Black Heart Bark both line up here again. Other notable winners include It’s a Dundeel and So You Think. Six of the last ten winners have come through the Makybe Diva Stakes.
Race Speed
This races looks like it will be run at a decent tempo with Homesman likely to lead them out from the middle barrier. Grunt draws the widest barrier and more than likely will also push forward to either lead of be on pace. Tosen Basil and Comin’ Through should both get decent runs just in behind the speed. Blair House and Humidor should bring up the rear of the field.
Key Runners
- HUMIDOR ($3.80)
Was brilliant second up taking out the G1 Memsie Stakes when largely unconsidered in the market. Last start was well fancied and was only fair to the line. The jump up to 1800m looks suitable and he can definitely atone here!
- BLAIR HOUSE ($5.00)
Overseas runner for Charlie Appleby here who has an absolutely tremendous record of runners in Australia – particularly 1st up! Was a Group 1 winner in Dubai last prep and although overseas form can be hard to line up, after what we saw from Jungle Cat last week it looks to hold up!
- GRUNT ($3.20)
Great win last start in the G1 Makybe Diva against a classy field, which included Humidor, Kings Will Dream and Black Heart Bart. Prior to that was solid in the Memsie without being spectacular. Was unbeaten before this prep, but had he’s flag lowered twice this prep before bouncing back last start. Has never raced at the distance, but has looked like wanting extra distance this prep.
Bluey's Best
- BLAIR HOUSE ($5.00)
A small, but tricky field here with a few runners all making very good claims. Grunt looks to be slightly under the odds having never raced at the distance and a poor record at Caulfield. Blair House obviously has his question marks too, but it’s impossible to leave Appleby runners out first up in Aus and his overseas form looks good.
