2008 Underwood Stakes – 20 September 2008

The $350,000 Group 1 Rokk Ebony Underwood Stakes is a standard weight-for-age race for three-year-olds and upwards over 1800 metres at Caulfield. There is a field of thirteen and the betting is dominated by odds-on favourite Weekend Hussler who is going for his seventh Group 1 win. Trainer Ross McDonald believes barrier 3 will be ideal and is hoping for a fast run race. It is the first time Weekend Hussler has run past 1600 metres in distance, and if you fancy something can beat him you will get a good price.

The early market has Maldivian as second favourite at $6.50. Maldivian is likely to be a front runner and was very close to Weekend Hussler in both the Liston (won by Light Fantastic) and the Memsie. He then went into the Feehan on 13 September where he was less than a length behind the winner. Trainer Mark Kavanagh has only backed him up within six or seven days twice before, and both times he came out and won – the 2007 Easter Cup at Caulfield and the JRA Cup at Moonee Valley.

Light Fantastic is the third favourite and it will be his third race against Horse of the Year Weekend Hussler. The score at this point is one win each. Light Fantastic has drawn barrier one and Craig Newitt will have to ensure the big striding horse doesn’t get stuck in a pocket. Trainer Mick Price is confident he will do better than his last start fourth in the Makybe Diva even though it will be his first try at the distance. Prices other runner is Pompeii Ruler who is also expected to improve on his disappointing 12th last week when he was stranded wide from a wide gate.

David Hayes has three runners in the race who have all drawn wide – The Fuzz (barrier 11), Kibbutz (barrier 13) and Indio Gloriosa (barrier 9). Hayes won this race in 1994 with Jeune. Viewed, trained by Bart Cumings is at long odds but performs well over this distance and worked home well over 1400 metres two weeks ago. He will be ridden by Damien Oliver who won this race on Northerly in 2001.

The two mares in the field are Zarita and Riva San and both have strong claims, although the race has not been won by a mare since Tristarc in 1985.

The Underwood Stakes was first run in 1924 and has been won by many good horses, some who have gone on to win the Cox Plate, the Caulfield Cup or the Melbourne Cup. Weekend Hussler may well be on his way to joining one of those lists.

by Jo Jackson