| What | Underwood Stakes Day |
| Where | Caulfield Racecourse – Gate 2, Station St, Caulfield East VIC 3145 |
| When | Saturday, September 20, 2025 |
| First Race | 12:10pm AEST |
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Visit Dabble |
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A stacked day of racing awaits punters at Caulfield on Saturday afternoon, with the Group 1 Underwood Stakes (1800m) and Group 1 Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes (1400m) headlining proceedings. Showers are forecast in the lead-up to the meeting, but it should not deteriorate the track too far from the Good 4 rating at the time of acceptances.
The rail comes out 6m the entire course, with the opening event scheduled to jump at 12:10pm AEST.
Underwood Stakes tip: Buckaroo
It was hard to miss the return of Buckaroo in the Group 1 Memsie Stakes (1400m) fresh from a spell on August 30, and with a strong second-up record, he looks poised to defend his Underwood Stakes crown. The son of Fastnet Rock has four wins and two minor placings from seven second-up starts and has yet to miss the top three in his three runs at Caulfield. Blake Shinn will have the seven-year-old gelding settled midfield with cover, and as long as he can find the right back to follow, Buckaroo will be savaging the line and should prove too hard to hold out.
Underwood Stakes
Race 7 – 
#2 Buckaroo (8)
7yo Gelding | T: Chris Waller | J: Blake Shinn (59kg)
Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes tip: Angel Capital
Angel Capital was breathtaking when winning the Listed Chautauqua Stakes (1200m) at Moonee Valley and looks set to go on with the job in Saturday’s Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes. The four-year-old put four lengths on his closest rival and was eased down late to suggest that there is still plenty left in the tank. He returns to the Caulfield 1400m, a track and trip he has won both of his starts at, and looks to get the perfect setup to unleash a powerful sprint late. Damian Lane will need a touch of luck early from barrier 13, but barring any bad luck, Angel Capital should be winning.
Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes
Race 8 – 
#9 Angel Capital (13)
4yo Horse | T: Chris Waller | J: Damian Lane (53.5kg)
Caulfield Guineas Prelude tip: Stay Cosmic
Stay Cosmic was valiant in defeat behind the smart Rosberg in the Listed Mckenzie Stakes (1200m), and looks poised to strike second-up in the Group 3 Caulfield Guineas Prelude (1400m). The son of Cosmic Force produced the best last 400m of the event to suggest the step up in trip will be ideal second-up, and despite being a backmarker, there looks to be enough pace engaged for him to be overhauling the leaders late. If Jamie Melham can have him within striking distance on the home turn, Stay Cosmic will be the one with the last crack at them late.
Caulfield Guineas Prelude
Race 5 – 
#5 Stay Cosmic (7)
3yo Rig | T: Phillip Stokes | J: Jamie Melham (56kg)
Naturalism Stakes tip: Statuario
With Halfs Yours and Birdman expected to head to Sydney, Statuario simply looks like the runner with the most upside in the 2025 Naturalism Stakes (2000m). He chased home a hot speed behind Too Darn Discreet in the Listed Heatherlie Stakes (1700m) when beaten 1.5 lengths, so he should be cherry-ripe for the 2000m second-up this preparation. If Dean Yendall can find cover in a positive position from barrier 19, the son of D’argento has shown so far in his career that he can sprint sharply for a stayer. With even luck, Statuario will outstay his rivals.
Naturalism Stakes
Race 9 – 
#16 Statuario (19)
4yo Gelding | T: Emma-Lee & David Browne | J: Dean Yendall (54.5kg)
Best Bet at Caulfield: Nadal
Despite not being seen since December last year, Nadal simply looks too hard to go past on return in a BM100 over 1100m. The five-year-old gelding was a dominant winner of The Meteorite (1200m) last prep when getting the better of subsequent Group 1 winner Baraqiel and will appreciate the step back to 1100m fresh. Luke Cartwright’s 3kg claim is an added bonus, and if the pair can land in the three-wide line with cover, Nadal has a blistering turn of foot, and will prove too hard to hold out.
Best Bet
Race 4 – 
#1 Nadal (8)
5yo Gelding | T: Ciaron Maher | J: Luke Cartwright (a3) (61kg)
Underwood Stakes Day quaddie tips for Caulfield
Caulfield quadrella selections
Saturday, September 20, 2025
- 2-4-9-10
- 1-9-16
- 2-7-8-16-17
- 5-6-8-10
Horse racing tips
