Horse Racing Tips for The Underwood Stakes 2024

The first three Group 1 races of the season in Victoria promised plenty and they delivered.

All were enthralling clashes that came down to the wire, but I’m expecting a different situation this Saturday.

We will see a dominant display by a runner who will stamp himself as a clear-cut Caulfield Cup favourite after the Underwood Stakes.

 

 

Underwood Stakes 2024 Tips and Best Bets

Track Conditions:

The track is currently rated as a Good 4, but with rain forecasted for Friday, it becomes tricky to predict where the rating will end up by the time the feature race is run.

Judging by the forecast we should get back to a Good 4 by the time the Underwood is run or at worst, a Soft 5.

The running rail is out 6m, but with how well the Caulfield track has played this year, it should be fair for all runners.

 

See who the All-In boys like in the Underwood Stakes

 

The Speed Map

Six-year-old mare Deny Knowledge (Barrier 9) will launch out of the gates and likely lead solo.

There should be a good battle for spots behind her, but I’m expecting that Bois D’argent (Barrier 4) will settle on the fence with Buckaroo (Barrier 10) on his outside.

The favourite Pericles (Barrier 11) has a big task ahead of him to find a position towards the front half of the field.

He will be relying on warhorse Vow And Declare (Barrier 12) to go forward or he will be stuck wide without cover.

Place Du Carrousel (Barrier 5) will get the run of the race, two pairs back with cover off the fence and be right there to pounce when required.

Fawkner Park (Barrier 2) will be worse off midfield and caught on the fence.

He will need a peach of a ride from Tyler Schiller and plenty of luck from there.

 

The Favourite - Pericles $3.00

He was unlucky not to win first-up in the Group 2 P.B. Lawrence Stakes behind ‘Gentleman Roy,’ but he bounced back dominantly last start at Moonee Valley with a 2.5-length victory.

He comes into the Underwood Stakes third-up, where he has yet to win from four tries but has placed on three occasions.

As mentioned, he has drawn poorly and will need a few things to go his way if he looks to settle in a positive position, as he has done in both runs this preparation.

He has the class and is in terrific form, but with a few question marks on him and the fact there is a possible Caulfield Cup winner in this field, he is a definite lay in this.

 

Place Du Carrousel trials ahead of The Underwood

 

Tips

1st – Place Du Carrousel $4.60

I have very high expectations for this five-year-old import for the Anthony & Sam Freedman stable.

I believe she will smash this field and stamp herself as a dominant favourite for the Caulfield Cup.

It was a superb performance in her first run in Australia in the Autumn, running second in the Group 1 Ranvet Stakes behind ‘Via Sistina’ before running a flat race in the Queen Elizabeth Stakes behind ‘Pride Of Jenni’.

Her two jump-out performances leading into this have been super, and she looks ready to explode this Spring.

She has a cracking first-up record (6:3-2-0) and gets Mark Zahra aboard for the ride.

He has been in great form in the last month with eight winners from 36 rides (22.22% Strike Rate).

She gets the perfect run in the race and I expect she wins and wins well here.

 

2nd – Buckaroo $5.50

Coming off a tough win last start in the Group 2 Chelmsford Stakes over 1600m.

If I am so high on Place Du Carrousel, I’ve got to give this five-year-old Fastnet Rock gelding a chance as well.

He finished right alongside my top pick last preparation in the Ranvet, so he has the class to mix it with the best.

He does have a poor third-up record (5:0-0-1), but with a good run in the race and with the ‘Magic Man’ Joao Moreira on board for the ride, he should be finishing top three.

 

3rd – Coco Sun $14.00

I think this four-year-old The Autumn Sun mare will run a good race here second-up (3:2-0-0).

She got through the line well over the concluding stages of her first-up run over 1400m, and the step-up in distance to 1800m will see an improved performance.

She maps well and gets the in-form Jamie Kah on for the ride.

 

4th – Pericles $3.00

There are a few concerns for him in this, but if he does get the luck he will be finishing top three.

Just with that element of doubt, I have him finishing fourth.

 

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