UNDERWOOD STAKES 2019 PREVIEW
CAULFIELD RACE 7 – 16:00 AEST
OPEN GROUP 1
1800m
$750,000
GOOD 4
Rail OUT 6m
| # | Form | Horse | Trainer | Jockey (barrier) | Weight (kg) | Current Price |
| 1 | 3x344 | HARTNELL | JAMES CUMMINGS | H BOWMAN (1) | 59.0 | $4.20 |
| 2 | 142x0 | GAILO CHOP | M WILLIAMS | D OLIVER (12) | 59.0 | $41 |
| 3 | 70x80 | BLACK HEART BART | L SMITH | B RAWILLER (6) | 59.0 | $46 |
| 4 | 33x00 | HUMIDOR | C MAHER & D EUSTACE | K MCEVOY (9) | 59.0 | $19 |
| 5 | 19x00 | HARLEM | D & B HAYES & T DABERNIG | D DUNN (10) | 59.0 | $126 |
| 6 | 33x90 | TRAP FOR FOOLS | J MCLEAN | P HALL (2) | 59.0 | $46 |
| 7 | 12251 | GATTING | D AULIFFE | JAMIE KAH (7) | 59.0 | $4.80 |
| 8 | 172x1 | HOMESMAN | LIAM HOWLEY | B MELHAM (13) | 59.0 | $2.60 |
| 9 | x10x0 | YUCATAN | LIAM HOWLEY | M WALKER (11) | 59.0 | $26 |
| 10 | 00x79 | YULONG PRINCE | C WALLER | M ZAHRA (5) | 59.0 | $27 |
| 11 | 0x318 | SUPER TITUS | D & B HAYES & T DABERNIG | J M NEIL (8) | 59.0 | $27 |
| 12 | 141x5 | THE CHOSEN ONE | M B & A FORSMAN | D LANE (3) | 58.0 | $12 |
| 13 | 11x78 | KENEDNA | C MAHER & D EUSTACE | J ALLEN (4) | 57.0 | $18 |
OVERVIEW
The last Group 1 of a racing packed weekend looks set to be a cracking edition of the Underwood Stakes, with a number of past Group 1 winners taking their places. Among them is the old war horse Hartnell who continues to run well. Last year’s winner Homesman jumps favourite here and looks to defend his title. Gatting also lines up here after scoring at absurd odds in the Group 1 Makybe Diva Stakes last start. Will he be able to score back-to-back Group 1 wins?
SPEED MAP
Pace should be moderate here with a number of frontrunners taking part. Trap for Fools looks set to lead them along from barrier 2 and will likely hold out Gailo Chop who likely pushes forward from the wide barrier. Favourite Homesman draws out wide and might find some issues if he is slowly away.
KEY RUNNERS
- HARTNELL ($4.20)
Hartnell is about 100 years old now but still continues to run well at the top level. He’s finished within 2 lengths of the winner in both starts this preparation and should only get better with each run. Extremely classy runner who should appreciate the rise to 1800m.
- GATTING ($5.50)
Caused an absolute boilover last start in the Group 1 Makybe Diva Stakes by saluting at over $120-1 and lowering the flags of Mystic Journey in the process, which high-quality fields had failed to do seven times prior. Maps to get a similar run here and will be interesting to see if Gatting can replicate that form again.
- HOMESMAN ($2.60)
Looks a deserved favourite here after a brilliant first up win where he scored a dominant 2.5L victory in the Group 2 Feehan Stakes. Should improve again second up and out to 1800m suits. Only issue is where he maps from the wide barrier. Followed the same preparation when he scored last year and makes a great case to score again this year.
BLUEY’S PICK
- GATTING ($5.50)
With Homesman likely to run into some issues from the wide barrier I am steering clear and opting for the in-form Gatting who can replicate his last start victory again here. Any horse that can beat Mystic Journey deserves respect and whilst we aren’t getting $120-1 here I’m expecting Gatting to put in another strong run here.
