Underwood Stakes

Winners and Past Results for the Underwood Stakes

One of the important races considered a preparation for the Cox Plate and Caulfield Cup during the Melbourne spring racing carnival is the Group 1 Underwood Stakes hosted by the Melbourne Racing Club held in September each year.

Horses three years old and over travel 1800 metres of Caulfield Racecourse under weight for age conditions in a bid to prove their ability to conquer middle distances over the season. The race is worth $350,000 in prize money. The race is held on the same day as the Group 1 Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes.

The Underwood Stakes is the first Group 1 race in Melbourne during the spring carnival. Other major races of the day include the Group 3 Naturalism Stakes, Thousand Guineas Prelude, and How Now Stakes. The race is the ideal event for trainers to test their horses for their ability to stretch over the mile and step up to longer distances up to 2400 metres over the season. For punters, horses that tackle the Underwood Stakes ought to be watched closely over the season with the potential to become Caulfield Cup and Cox Plate winners and placegetters. The Yalumba Stakes is also another likely race than many horses may tackle after the Underwood Stakes.

Some of the finest gallopers to claim the Underwood Stakes in earlier times include Heroic, Phar Lap, Ajax, Big Philou, Lord, Tobin Bronze, and Rain Lover. Rubiton followed suit in 1987 while Octagonal and Tie The Knot won in 1996 and 1998 respectively. Northerly scored back to back victories in 2001-02 while Elvstroem won in 2004 and Weekend Hussler triumphed in 2008.

The Underwood Stakes was held in 1924 as a principal race with Whittier winning two consecutive titles. It became a Group 1 race in 1979 and has enjoyed the status ever since.

From 1948 the race was moved to Caulfield Racecourse, the 8 furlong was increased to 9 furlongs (approx. 1800m). This was until 1954 when it was once again increased by another furlong. Eventually in 1994 the race became a definite 1800 metre race.

2012 Underwood Stakes

Kiwi galloper Ocean Park raced alongside pre-race favourite Manighar for the first part of this Group 1 event, with the pair midfield after 1200 metres. Manighar began an outside run at this point while Ocean Park's jockey, Glen Boss, was happy to stay on the inside. As they made the run home, gaps gradually opened in the field for Ocean Park, while Manighar failed to run on. Once clear, Ocean Park set out after the leader Voila Ici, eventually drawing level and then going clear to win by half a length. December Draw, disappointing in his last start, looked a much better horse in finishing strongly for third place.

2012 Underwood Stakes result

1. Ocean Park
2. Voila Ici
3. December Draw

Then came:

4. Southern Speed
5. Sincero
6. Manighar
7. Zabeelionaire
8. Mawingo
9. Winchester
10. Sanagas
11. Maluckyday
12. Illo
13. Niwot
14. Drunken Sailor