Underwood Stakes 2021: Pro punter preview
Pro punter Trevor Lawson gives us his thoughts on the 2021 Underwood Stakes.
We only have a five horse field here which is obviously a disappointing result. It’s a $1 million Group 1! Clearly Zaaki has scared off any rivals… there’s just so many options these days for connections so if they don’t want to run in a certain race, they just don’t have to – there’s other races for them to go to.
For mine, ZAAKI is potentially a 3-4 length better horse than anything else here. Looks the leader and I think Williams will just take him to the front as there’s not much other obvious speed.. I’ve got him marked $1.50, and that’s being conservative. The rest of these don’t get near him.
I’ve got PROBABEEL on the second line at around $6, but it’s on the quick back-up and jumping in distance. THE CHOSEN ONE was okay first-up but it was a poor rating race. FIFTY STARS hasn’t figured in his first two runs and needs more racing.
“This is a demolition job in the Tramway!”
Zaaki is simply sensational, bring on the spring 👏
@ANeashamRacing @mcacajamez @aus_turf_club pic.twitter.com/B41WU8L8dk— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) September 4, 2021
Underwood Stakes
The Underwood Stakes is a Group 1 weight-for-age race over 1800 metres, to be run at Sandown Racecourse in 2021. Current prizemoney is $1 million.
The Underwood Stakes was first run all the way back in 1924, at the Williamstown Racing Club. After a number of racing club mergers in Melbourne, it found its home at Caulfield in 1948 before being moved to Sandown in 2021. It has been a Group 1 event since 1979.
The race is a traditional early spring run for horses on the way to the major Spring Carnival races. Some of the biggest names to have won the Underwood Stakes are Phar Lap, Ajax, Big Philou, Bonecrusher, Octagonal, Tie The Knot, Northerly and So You Think.
Underwood Stakes
Caulfield Racecourse, 1800m
Group 1 weight-for-age
$750,000
Underwood Stakes 2020
The 2020 Underwood stakes was won by hot favourite Russian Camelot, which was ridden by Damien Oliver and trained by Danny O’Brien. The Caulfield track was rated a Soft 6. Humidor, trained by Chris Waller and ridden by Craig Williams, ran second. Grant and Alana Williams’ Arcadia Queen ran third, ridden by William Pike.
| Finish | Horse | Jockey | Trainer | Margin | Barrier | Weight | SP |
| 1 | Russian Camelot | Damien Oliver | Danny O’Brien | 1:50.85 | 8 | 56.5 | $1.55 |
| 2 | Humidor | Craig Williams | Chris Waller | 1.75 | 3 | 59 | $17 |
| 3 | Arcadia Queen | William Pike | Grant & Alana Williams | 2.25 | 1 | 57 | $5.50 |
Russian Camelot could be anything. 💪
A star is born in the Underwood Stakes. pic.twitter.com/P7frTCyWvX
— 7HorseRacing 🐎 (@7horseracing) September 26, 2020
Underwood Stakes: past winners
2020 Russian Camelot
2019 Black Heart Bart
2018 Homesman
2017 Bonneval
2016 Black Heart Bart
2015 Mourinho
2014 Foreteller
2013 It’s a Dundeel
2012 Ocean Park
2011 Lion Tamer
2010 So You Think
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