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 $750,000 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 place getters. 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.