The 2024 Underwood Stakes steals the show in Melbourne this weekend as the count down to the major staying races of the spring heats up, and two horses are battling for favouritism in the Caulfield showdown.
Pericles is one of the top picks in 2024 Underwood Stakes betting this weekend in Melbourne. Photo: Ultimate Racing Photos.
There are 12 remaining runners in the Group 1 $750,000 Underwood Stakes (1800m) following the scratching of Kovalica and it is the Anthony & Sam Freedman-trained mare, Place Du Carrousel, who is currently leading the markets after an early money move.
Drawn well in gate five with Mark Zahra riding, the resuming daughter of Lope De Vega has firmed in from $5 to $3.50 in the Underwood Stakes odds online at Ladbrokes.com.au.
She has overtaken the Godolphin-raced son of Street Boss, Pericles, at the top of the Underwood markets now with James Cummings‘ one-time favourite now the $3.60 second elect.
Place Du Carrousel is a lightly raced six-year-old having just her 13th start on the weekend, and she is putting together a nice record as a five-time winner and three-time runner-up during her career so far.
The French import won at the highest level over 2000m at Longchamp back in October of 2022 and has been impressive down under for her new stable.
She was an eye-catching runner-up behind Via Sistina first-up in Australia in the Group 1 Ranvet Stakes (2000m) in Sydney before her seventh to runaway winner Pride Of Jenni in the Group 1 Queen Elizabeth Stakes (2000m) during the autumn.
Saturday marks her first run since to kick off a predicted strong spring campaign and the punters are happy to back her fresh.
Pericles, wider out in gate 11 with Blake Shinn aboard, does have the fitness edge here racing third-up with confidence.
He was under a length off Gentleman Roy in the Group 2 P.B. Lawrence when third in his first run this prep before returning to the winner’s stall in the lower grade So You Think Stakes (1500m) at The Valley last time out.
It was a good field he beat as the odds-on elect that day by 2.5 lengths with 59kg, and he’s a previous winner at this distance so should be right in the finish back up notably in grade.
Two other runners are also at single figures in the Underwood Stakes betting markets with Chris Waller’s Group 2 winner Buckaroo ($6.50) racing third-up off a tight Randwick win in the Group 2 Chelmsford Stakes (1600m) last time out and the potential Melbourne Cup-bound Fawkner Park ($7.50).
The Annabel Neasham & Rob Archibald-trained Fawkner Park is considered an early top contender for the spring cup races.
He runs in the Underwood first-up having last been seen winning Brisbane’s Group 2 The Q22 (2200m) in style over the winter with improvement likely over further deeper into his prep.
The 2024 Underwood Stakes is set to run as Caulfield Race 8 at 4:15pm (AEST) on Saturday’s 10-race card.
Click here for the latest markets from Ladbrokes.com.au.
2024 Underwood Stakes Final Field & Barrier Draw
| No | Last 10 | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Barrier | Weight | Probable Weight | Penalty | H Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 95x24041x5 | VOW AND DECLARE | Danny O’Brien | Billy Egan | 13 | 59kg | 106 | ||
| 2 | 2x62572x31 | PERICLES | James Cummings | Blake Shinn | 11 | 59kg | 110 | ||
| 3 | 0445111645 | MUNHAMEK (GB) | Nick Ryan | Jamie Mott | 1 | 59kg | 107 | ||
| 4 | 666x01540x | HUETOR (FR) | Peter Snowden | Michael Dee | 6 | 59kg | 108 | ||
| 6 | 74x274313x | BOIS D’ARGENT (GB) | Annabel Neasham & Rob Archibald | Ben Melham | 4 | 59kg | 109 | ||
| 7 | 50x441131x | FAWKNER PARK (IRE) | Annabel Neasham & Rob Archibald | Tyler Schiller | 2 | 59kg | 110 | ||
| 8 | 75x5356x81 | BUCKAROO (GB) | Chris Waller | Joao Moreira | 10 | 59kg | 109 | ||
| 9 | 413x24234x | KNIGHT’S CHOICE | John Symons & Sheila Laxon | Craig Williams | 3 | 59kg | 102 | ||
| 10 | 06933×7552 | DUKE DE SESSA (IRE) | Ciaron Maher | Declan Bates | 8 | 59kg | 104 | ||
| 11 | x5x110x27x | PLACE DU CARROUSEL (IRE) | Anthony & Sam Freedman | Mark Zahra | 5 | 57kg | 112 | ||
| 12 | 17x034021x | DENY KNOWLEDGE (IRE) | Anthony & Sam Freedman | Jye McNeil | 9 | 57kg | 105 | ||
| 13 | 055x1131x7 | COCO SUN | Tony & Calvin McEvoy | Ms Jamie Kah | 7 | 56kg | 105 |
Table Credit: Racing Australia.
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