The Underwood Stakes will this year take place at Sandown on a Saturday because of the AFL night Grand Final and we are pumped for a huge day of racing.
Our full 2021 Underwood Stakes Day Tips & Preview can be read below.
Race 1 – 12:10PM – Benchmark 90 Handicap, (1000m) – No. 4 Esta La Roca
Esta La Roca is a lightly raced four year old mare who is racing consistently throughout this prep having placed in all but one of her five starts.
She finished fourth at her last start in the Group 2 McEwen Stakes at The Valley but was less than two lengths from the winner The Inferno.
Josh Richards will give the mare some weight relief in this event and she is the horse to beat.
Race 2 – 12:45PM – Benchmark 78 Handicap, (1400m) – No. 6 Embolism
Embolism is a very smart individual who has proven himself in some quality races in the past.
He finished within a length of the winner Lunar Fox in the Group 1 Australian Guineas as a three year old and this is a massive drop in grade from that event.
The son of Shamus Award has been gelded since the last time we saw him in April and despite the tricky gate, he is very much a winning chance.
Race 3 – 1:20pm – 3YO Handicap, (1400m) – No. 3 Linas Legend
Linas Legend has been flawless so far this prep having won both his starts by a combined 4.75 lengths at Echuca and Sandown.
This is another step up in grade for the son of Teofilo but he has proven a very talented and progressive horse to date.
Damien Lane steers from barrier two.
Race 4 – 1:55pm – Listed Jim Moloney Stakes, (1400m) – No. 8 Fortunate Kiss
Zouzarella should have any horse coming out of the Atlantic Jewel covered so I’ve landed on one with different formlines at a price.
Fortunate Kiss finished third on debut in the Group 3 Chairman’s Stakes at Caulfield behind Enthaar and Ingratiating back in Kanuary before spelling.
She then won her maiden and finished second at this track last start and should be ready to peak at her third run.
Race 5 – 2:30pm – Group 3 Sandown Stakes, (1500m) – No. 2 Elephant
The lightly raced kiwi gelding Elephant suffered defeat for the very first time in his short eight race career last start at The Valley but he did no lose too many admirers.
The Feehan Stakes has turned into quite a good form reference with Sierra Sue, who ran just in behind them in the Feehan, taking out the Sir Rupert Clarke last week.
He will be plenty fit for this assignment in the Sandown Stakes and has drawn to get a nice run throughout the race from barrier four.
Race 6 – 3:05pm – Open Handicap, (1800m) – No. 9 Don’t Doubt Dory
I was really impressed by the performance of Don’t Doubt Dory last start at The Valley when he shot up the inside to score going away over 1600m.
It was a good sign of a horse that is really enjoying his racing right at the minute and although he will carry more weight for this assignment, he is again a winning chance.
Race 7 – 3:45pm – Group 1 Underwood Stakes, (1800m) – Exacta: Zaaki to beat Probabeel
We are left with a field of just five horses to contest the Group 1 Underwood Stakes and I don’t blame anyone for avoiding the boom horse Zaaki.
He has now won his last four in a row and he could not have been more impressive when taking out the Tramway Stakes first up at Royal Randwick.
Probabeel was excellent when finishing fifth last week in the Sir Rupert Clarke when she was asked to carry the big weight and she can run second.
Race 8 – 4:25pm – Listed Testa Rossa Stakes, (1300m) – No. 6 Chaillot
Chaillot is a very progressive and lightly raced five year old mare who has managed four wins from just eight career race starts so far.
She finished within a length of the winner Shout The Bar in the Group 1 Empire Rose last spring proving she is capable of a high rating performance on her day.
This is short of her ideal distance but her recent trials suggest she is ready to go first up.