CAULFIELD NOTES | UNDERWOOD STAKES DAY
Updated: 5 hours ago
Our Track Report suggests you’ll be able to make ground at Caulfield, but the key will be coming through them rather than around them.
We’ve marked Lanes 3 to 7 as the best ground. Ideally you don’t want to be any wider than four or five off the fence around the turn before working up through the guts of the field in the straight. Leaders/on-pacers are still right in play.
Is BUCKAROO an Underwood specialist?
The numbers suggest he might be.
His 2024 victory came off a hot tempo, some 7L above standard. Last year he finsihed a narrow second to SIR DELIUS when they went 3L below standard.
Two completely different race shapes. Two huge performances.
Soft lead for stablemate
LINDERMANN looks capable of finding an easy lead unless KINGSWOOD has other ideas. Expect a moderate tempo at best.
Blake Shinn knows LINDERMANN has a fitness edge on most of these, so don’t be surprised if he starts winding things up around the 700m. He could prove very hard to run down and for mine is the horse to beat.
Cup start on the line
The G3 Naturalism Stakes (2000m) offers a guaranteed Caulfield Cup start - the same path HALF YOURS took before completing the Cups double last year.
SAINT GEORGE is the shortest of these in Caulfield Cup betting, but doesn’t need to win to get there.
ZAHRANN probably does — and he’s my BEST BET for the weekend.
He’s had just three runs in Australia. On debut he clocked the fastest last 200m of the day, before striking a Heavy track second-up.
Then in the Heatherlie here three weeks ago, he clocked the best late sections from the 800m to the post in a real test that will bring him on.
Now he gets to 2000m with a Caulfield Cup spot potentially on the line.
When figures and intent combine, the horse rarely runs poorly.
Good Punting.
Nic.
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