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Caulfield Racecourse

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The Underwood Stakes is the first Group 1 race of the Melbourne Spring Racing carnival. This 1800-metre race is held every September at the Caulfield racecourse and it is participated by the best middle distance race horses in Australia. This race is held on the same day as the 1400-metre Group 1 Sir Rupert Clarks Stakes and is the first weight-for-age spring race that is longer than a metric mile or 1600 metres.

Traditionally, the 1200-metre Group 1 Manikato Stakes is the first Group One race of spring racing. However, the Mooney Valley Racing Club move the staging of this race since 2009 from early September to late September to coincide with the Group Two Stutt Stakes which is staged on the Friday after the Underwood Stakes.

This weight-for-age race is for horses that are at least three years old. In 2009, it carried a prize pool of $353,000. It has gone a long way from its original inception in 1924. Back then, it was still held at the Werribee horse racing track and it had a distance of eight furlongs or about 1600 metres. In 1943, that distanced was shortened to seven furlongs. In 1944, this race was even staged twice.

It was in 1948 when the Underwood Stakes was first held in Caulfield and the race distance was increased to nine furlongs or approximately 1800 metres. In 1954, the race distance was again increased to ten furlongs or around 2000 metres. However, the race’s current distance of 1800 metres was established in 1994.

Since the Turnbull Stakes at Flemington happens a few days after it, the Underwood Stakes is an ideal lead-up race for the Turnbull and future races such as the WS Cox Plate and the Caulfield Cup. Because of its odd distance of 1800 metres, trainers see this race as a transition race for horses that they want to take a jump from 1600-metre races to 2000-metre or even 2400-metre races.

El Segundo used his 2006 Underwood Stakes to win the 2007 WS Cox Plate the following year. Also, 2003 Underwood Stakes winner Mummify and 2004 Underwood Stakes winner Elvstroem carried their winning momentum to win the Caulfield Cup in their respective years.

Other top notch horses that have won the Underwood Stakes are Bonecrusher in 1986, Rubiton in 1987, Octagonal in 1996, Northerly in 2001 and 2002 and Weekend Hussler in 2008. Maldivian, a fourth-place finisher at the 2008 Underwood Stakes, won the Cox Plate later that year. Also, Northerly too back-to-back Underwood Stakes and WS Cox Plate titles in 2001 and 2002. He also won the 2002 Caulfield Cup.

Meanwhile, 2000 Underwood Stakes winner Oliver Twist also won the Mackinnon Stakes that same year. In 2009, Heart of Dreams improved from his fifth place finish at the Group 2 Makybe Diva Stakes to win the Underwood Stakes. Whobegotyou and Predatory Pricer came in second and third respectively.

Aside from the intense race, the Underwood Stakes race day also features the Fashionista Ladies Day which features some of the newest and best horse racing gear that are up for grabs during that season.

Underwood Stakes Recent History