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The Group 1 Underwood Stakes (1800m) is run at Caulfield in mid-to-late September. Our tips, field and best bets are published in race week.
Underwood Stakes tips, best bets, field & odds. Below is our complete Underwood Stakes guide: race details, history and past winners, lead-in form, betting markets and FAQs.
🏆 Result: Birdman wins the 2026 Underwood Stakes. Ben Melham and Chris Waller took it at $6.00, with the $2.25 favourite Cosmic Crusader second and Attrition third at $101.00.
Underwood Stakes 2026 Result
| Pos | Horse | Jockey | Trainer | SP |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | Birdman | Ben Melham | Chris Waller | $6.00 |
| 2nd | Cosmic Crusader | William Pike | Andrea Leek | $2.25 |
| 3rd | Attrition | Jordan Mott | Mitchell Freedman | $101.00 |
| 4th | Kingswood | John Allen | Gavin Bedggood | $16.00 |
How our tip went. We were on Cosmic Crusader, who ran second as the $2.25 favourite. The read that did land was the one at the top of this page: Chris Waller trained four of the nine and the race went to a Waller runner, just not the one the market wanted. Birdman was the fourth pick of the stable’s quartet on price and beat the favourite home. Lindermann, at $3.00 the other short one in the market, finished last of the eight to complete.
Underwood Stakes 2026 Field & Best Bets
Run Saturday 19 September 2026 at Caulfield over 1800m at weight-for-age. Nine accepted for the Group 1, and the standout number is the stable column: Chris Waller trains four of the nine, in Lindermann, Buckaroo, Birdman and Aeliana. At weight-for-age every runner carries 59kg bar Aeliana, who gets the mares allowance at 57kg, so the weights tell you nothing and the barriers and form lines have to do all the work.
| No. | Horse | Bar | Wgt | Jockey | Trainer | Form |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lindermann | 1 | 59kg | B Shinn | C J Waller | 392291 |
| 2 | Buckaroo | 8 | 59kg | Mark Zahra | C J Waller | 20-255 |
| 3 | Attrition | 7 | 59kg | J Mott | Mitchell Freedman | 6-8090 |
| 4 | Pinstriped | 2 | 59kg | Lachlan Neindorf | E Jusufovic | 45-442 |
| 5 | Cosmic Crusader | 3 | 59kg | W Pike | Andrea Leek | 12-113 |
| 6 | Birdman | 4 | 59kg | B Melham | C J Waller | 115216 |
| 7 | Middle Earth | 5 | 59kg | Ethan Brown | C Maher | 3-8918 |
| 8 | Kingswood | 9 | 59kg | John Allen | Gavin Bedggood | 41-251 |
| 9 | Aeliana | 6 | 57kg | Damian Lane | C J Waller | 6-22110 |
The read. Cosmic Crusader comes out of a third in the Memsie behind Beiwacht and Mr Brightside and draws barrier three, which is the best combination of recent form and gate in the race. Kingswood won last start off a spell and has the outside gate to overcome. Aeliana is the one getting weight relief and has a 6-2-2-1-1-0 line reading back, so the question is whether 1800m at weight-for-age suits after a beaten run. With a single-figure field and no genuine leader among the Waller four, expect a tactical race where the run of the race matters more than raw ratings.
The Underwood Stakes is a $1 million Group 1 weight-for-age contest over 1800m at Caulfield in mid-to-late September. It is a traditional Cox Plate lead-in for horses building towards the spring’s weight-for-age championship and a key middle-distance form line of the early Melbourne spring. This guide covers the Underwood Stakes dates, distance, prize money, betting markets and our full race-day tips. For the full carnival, see our Melbourne Spring Racing Carnival guide.
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Underwood Stakes Race Details
| Detail | Value |
|---|---|
| Distance | 1800m |
| Class | Group 1 Weight-for-Age |
| Age / Conditions | Three-year-olds and upwards |
| Venue | Caulfield, Melbourne |
| Prize Money | $1 million |
| Run Date | Saturday 19 September 2026 |
Underwood Stakes History & Winners
Birdman took the 2026 running. Recent winners before him include Sir Delius, Mr Brightside, Lindermann, Fangirl, Alligator Blood and Kings Will Dream. The 1800m trip suits middle-distance horses with enough speed to hold position plus staying strength to finish off.
Lead-In Races
The main lead-in is the Group 1 Makybe Diva Stakes (1600m) at Flemington two weeks earlier. Many horses step up in trip from the Makybe Diva straight into the Underwood.
Underwood Stakes Betting Markets
All major Australian bookmakers price the Underwood Stakes weeks out, with a full acceptances market released after the final field is declared. The core markets are:
- Fixed-Odds Win & Place: the bread-and-butter markets, with early speculative prices followed by final acceptances pricing.
- Each-Way: typically 1/4 the odds for a place (1-2-3).
- Exotics: quinella, exacta, trifecta and First 4. See our First 4 calculator guide.
- Same Race Multis: combine multiple runners from the same race into one bet. See our Same Race Multi guide.
- Head-to-Head & Group Markets: runner-vs-runner matchups and stable/country markets.
How to Watch the Underwood Stakes in Australia
The Underwood Stakes is run in mid-to-late September at Caulfield, building towards the Cox Plate. Coverage is shown live on Sky Racing (Sky Thoroughbred Central / Sky Racing 1 and 2) and streamed on Racing.com, and most major bookmakers carry a free live stream of the race for account holders with a balance or a bet on the day. For more carnival action, see our Cox Plate tips and Caulfield Cup tips, or browse all our horse racing tips and previews.
Best Bookmakers for the Underwood Stakes
For a full comparison of the top Australian racing bookmakers, see our best horse racing betting sites in Australia guide.
#AD 18+ T&Cs Apply Imagine what you could be buying instead. For free & confidential support call 180 0858 858 or visit gamblinghelponline.org.au
18+ T&C's Apply. What are you really gambling with? Chances are you're about to lose. Set a Deposit Limit For free and confidential support call 1800 858 858 or visit gamblinghelponline.org.au
18+ T&C's Apply. What are you really gambling with? Chances are you're about to lose. Set a Deposit Limit For free and confidential support call 1800 858 858 or visit gamblinghelponline.org.au
18+ T&C's Apply. What are you really gambling with? Chances are you're about to lose. Set a Deposit Limit For free and confidential support call 1800 858 858 or visit gamblinghelponline.org.au
#AD 18+ T&Cs Apply Imagine what you could be buying instead. For free & confidential support call 180 0858 858 or visit gamblinghelponline.org.au
18+ T&C's Apply. What are you really gambling with? Chances are you're about to lose. Set a Deposit Limit For free and confidential support call 1800 858 858 or visit gamblinghelponline.org.au
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Underwood Stakes FAQs
When is the Underwood Stakes?
The Underwood Stakes is run in mid-to-late September at Caulfield Racecourse. The 2026 running is on Saturday 19 September 2026, on the same card as the Group 1 Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes.
What distance is the Underwood Stakes?
The Underwood Stakes is run over 1800m at Caulfield.
Is the Underwood Stakes a handicap?
No. The Underwood Stakes is run at weight-for-age.
How much is the Underwood Stakes worth?
The Underwood Stakes carries $1 million in total prize money.
Who has won the Underwood Stakes recently?
Recent winners include Sir Delius (2025), Mr Brightside, Lindermann, Fangirl, Alligator Blood and Kings Will Dream.
How can I watch the Underwood Stakes live?
The Underwood Stakes is broadcast live on Sky Racing and streamed via Racing.com, with most major Australian bookmakers offering a free live stream for eligible account holders.
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