Cover image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
G1 Underwood S. - Group 1 history
One of only two Australian Group 1 races, Perth's Northerly S. the other, contested over 1800 metres, this weight-for-age contest that has called Williamstown, Sandown and Caulfield home boasts an impressive honour roll.
Won for the last two years by the currently off the scene Alligator Blood (All Too Hard), it has also been taken out by the likes of Phar Lap (NZ) (Night Raid {GB}), Ajax, Hall Mark, Tobin Bronze, Bonecrusher (NZ) (Pag-Asa), Rubiton, Octagonal (NZ), Elvstroem, Northerly (Serheed {USA}) and So You Think (NZ).
Amongst this year's runners there are five individual Group 1 winners and it is a mixture of elite-level races they have taken out; Vow And Declare (Declaration Of War {USA}) winning the 2019 G1 Melbourne Cup and Huetor (Fr) (Archipenko {USA}) successful in consecutive runnings of the G1 Doomben Cup whilst Bois D'Argent (GB) (Toronado {Ire}) took out that same race this year.
Pericles, the current favourite for the G1 Underwood S. at Caulfield | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
Coco Sun (The Autumn Sun) this year's G1 South Australian Derby whilst Place Du Carrousel (Ire) (Lope de Vega {Ire}) claimed the G1 Prix de l'Opera in October 2022.
The latter is the most strongly fancied of those already proven in Group 1 company, coming off a Cranbourne trial second and a Mornington jump-out victory having kicked off her last campaign splitting Via Sistina (Ire) (Fastnet Rock) and fellow Underwood contender Buckaroo (GB) (Fastnet Rock) in the G1 Ranvet S.
Also strongly fancied is Pericles (Street Boss {USA}) who has come up well and Fawkner Park (Ire) (Zoffany {Ire}) whose last first-up run was a big win in the Listed Wagga Cup.
The 7 Stakes - no black-type but still a beauty!
The second edition of this million-dollar race sees leading trainer Chris Waller exert significant influence, with three of the top contenders hailing from his stable.
Two of those, Fangirl (Sebring) and Hinged (Worthy Cause), also contested the inaugural running; the former a fast-finishing third off a slow start whilst the latter was at the rear with issues (cardiac arrhythmia).
Having run so well in a race not really run to suit first-up, Fangirl is Saturday's worthy favourite though her stable mate Zougotcha (Zoustar) is also a major chance having finished in front of her in the G1 Winx S.
Both mares have been kept up to the mark competing in trials since.
Fangirl, the current favourite for The 7 S. at Randwick | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
Hinged meanwhile comes through the G2 Chelmsford S.; a game second in that race. She has an extra run under her belt and she has run some nice races third-up.
My Oberon (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) also contested this race last year, finishing just behind the placegetters. He was second-up off a G2 Tramway H. sixth beaten 2l whilst this time around he was 3.5l off them when solid in that same race.
Fellow import Royal Patronage (Fr) (Wootton Bassett {GB}) won the Tramway and in good fashion too, looking likely to be even better suited at the 1600 metres.
The now retired Think It Over (So You Think NZ}) won this race last year, with Zaaki (GB) (Leroidesanimaux {Brz}) second. A nice first running of a race and the second one looks pretty good too.
G2 Tea Rose S. - fabulous fillies
Ten 3-year-old fillies strut their stuff in this 1400-metre contest, a race first run in 1980 named in honour of the terrific Tea Rose (Mr Standfast {GB}) who took on and defeated the boys in the G1 Rosehill Guineas and the G1 AJC Derby.
It's another classy filly who has been able to take on the males who draws attention this Saturday with Autumn Glow (The Autumn Sun) a short-priced favourite on the back of her dominant performance in the G3 Up And Coming S.
Autumn Glow, the current favourite for the G2 Tea Rose S. at Randwick | Image courtesy of Sportpix
That was her second win from as many starts, her first also impressive with last weekend's Listed Exford Plate winner Dawn Service (Justify {USA}) finishing second.
The G2 Silver Shadow S. and the G2 Furious S. are both usually good guides to this race and the winners of both of those races take their place, Tassort's talented daughters Ameena and Manaal.
Should Ameena take this out she would become the eighth filly to win the Silver Shadow and the Tea Rose, a double most recently taken out by Dame Giselle (I Am Invincible) in 2020.
And should Manaal win she'd be the second Furious winner in a row to salute, Tiz Invincible (I Am Invincible) successful in both races last year.
There is a theme here, daughters and great-granddaughters of I Am Invincible.
I Am Invincible | Standing at Yarraman Park Stud
The Tea Rose is a great guide to future success, especially in regards to the G1 Flight S. with 17 of its winners going on to Group 1 glory in that race including Zougotcha two years ago.
And it has also be won by such outstanding fillies as Burst (Marauding {NZ}), Sunline (NZ) (Desert Sun {GB}) and More Joyous (NZ) (More Than Ready {USA}) whilst the 2014 edition saw the defeat of the odds-on favourite Winx (Street Cry {Ire}) who eight months later discovered that she really didn't like getting beaten.
The Tea Rose is a good guide to future broodmare success as well with its winners including the Group 1 producers Assertive Lass (Zeditave) (Reset by Zabeel {NZ}), Mnemosyne (Encosta De Lago) (Impending by Lonhro), Bold Promise (Luskin Star) (Merlene by Danehill {USA} and Miss Pennymoney by Brocco {USA}), Whisked (Whiskey Road {USA}) (Tie The Knot by Nassipour {USA}) and Glenview (NZ) (Sir Tristram {Ire}) (Timber Trader {NZ} by Woodman {USA}).
G3 Caulfield Guineas Prelude - a Group 1 guide
This is always an interesting race from a G1 Caulfield Guineas perspective though it has been a while since one horse has won both races, an achievement reached on only three occasions since the change of race name from the JD Macdonald S. to the Prelude in 2000.
By Wonderful World in 2006, Anacheeva in 2010 and Helmet in 2011. And before then by Alfa (El Moxie {USA}) in 1996.
Last year's winner Steparty (Artie Schiller {USA}) did run well however, a solid third behind Griff (Trapeze Artist) whilst the others to win this race and place in the big one are Alligator Blood, Rich Enuff and Epaulette.
And six Caulfield Guineas winners have had a lead-up hit-out in this race.
Wanaruah, the current favourite for the G3 Caulfield Guineas Prelude | Image courtesy of Sportpix
Another 10 winners of this race went on to win other Group 1 races; Alligator Blood, Epaulette, Bon Aurum, Apache Cat (Lion Cavern {USA}), Elvstroem, Umrum (Umatilla {NZ}), Sudurka (Perugino {USA}), Racer's Edge, Strategic and Unspoken Word (NZ) (Mr Illusion {NZ}).
Steparty came to this race via a win in the Listed Mitchell McKenzie S., the same race won this year by Angel Capital (Harry Angel {Ire}) who impressed finishing off so strongly from the rear. The second and third horses from that race again take him on; Bosustow (Blue Point {Ire}) who fought on well and Sergeant Major (NZ) (Proisir) who was good to the line after finding trouble in running.
Epimeles (Dundeel {NZ}) had no luck in that same race whilst bringing in differing form lines are the last-start Eagle Farm Listed winner Depth Of Character (Deep Field), the G3 Up And Coming S. runner-up Wanaruah (Snitzel) and the two-time Warwick Farm winner Private Life (Written Tycoon).
G3 Foundation Cup - ticket to the Caulfield Cup
Whilst last year's winner Uncle Bryn (GB) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) has not been seen much since, this 2000-metre contest registered as the Naturalism S. has gained its winner automatic G1 Caulfield Cup inclusion since 2007.
Since that time it has been won by 12 horses who have gone on to contest the world's richest 2400-metre handicap with Jameka (Myboycharlie {Ire}) in 2016 the only horse to win both races whilst two have been brave seconds in the Cup; Nonconformist (Rebel Raider) behind Incentivise (Shamus Award) in 2021 and Douro Valley (Encosta De Lago) behind Master O'Reilly (NZ) (O'Reilly {NZ}) in 2007.
This race has been a good one for imported gallopers, successful six times since 2011 and the Northern Hemisphere breed again plays a big hand this year with the main fancies including Saint George (GB) (Roaring Lion {USA}) and Que Tempesta (Ire) (Territories {Ire}) who both ran well without the best of luck at their Australian debuts in the Listed Heatherlie H.
Immediacy (NZ), the current favourite for the G3 Foundation Cup at Caulfield | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
Gear Up (Ire) (Teofilo {Ire}) who was good fresh and who second-up last time in won the Listed Victoria Gold Cup over this same distance at the same track whilst Just Fine (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) and Francesco Guardi (Ire) (Frankel {GB}) both showed nice improvement in the G2 Chelmsford S.
It is an even race with many changes, others including The Map (Alpine Eagle) who blew the start when resuming in Adelaide, the promising staying mare Positivity (NZ) (Almanzor {Fr}) who was also good fresh and Immediacy (NZ) (Tarzino {NZ}) whose final 200 metres at Moonee Valley was the fastest in what looks likely to prove a strong form race.
G2 The Shorts - not short in history
A race with plenty of history, first run in 1867, The Shorts is on the resume of some very nice sprinters with six of those winning the race on more than one occasions.
Gigandra (Ibex) holds the best record in The Shorts with wins 1912, 1914 and 1915 whilst Greenstead won in 1919 and 1921, going on to sire two winners of the race including Calmest who was successful in 1926 and 1927.
Winnipeg (Manitoba {GB})'s two wins in the race came three years apart in 1941 and 1944 whilst Nagpuni (Gaekwar's Pride {GB}) won in 1953 and 1954 and King's Favourite (King's Delight) 1976 and 1977.
These are tough and durable horses and the same can certainly be said for last year's winner Private Eye (Al Maher) who again takes his place this year.
First up when defeating, at double-figure odds, Overpass (Vancouver) 12 months ago, Private Eye this time has the benefit of a lead-up run having finished off nicely in the G3 Concorde S.
I Am Me, the current favourite for the G2 The Shorts at Randwick | Image courtesy of Ashlea Brennan
First and third in that race, I Am Me (I Am Invincible) and Way To The Stars (Reward For Effort) are again amongst his rivals as is Aft Cabin (Astern) who did not have a great deal of luck. The same can be said for Dragonstone (Mikki Isle {Jpn}) who has drawn more favourably this time.
There are other noteworthy form lines coming into the race, the G1 Golden Slipper S. heroine Lady Of Camelot (Written Tycoon) running so well in the G1 Moir S. first-up, Our Kobison (Kobayashi) losing no fans with his G3 Show County Quality second behind Joliestar (Zoustar) whilst Mumbai Muse (Zoustar) backs up from a brave G2 Sheraco S. second last weekend.
Meanwhile Stefi Magnetica (All Too Hard) and Mazu (Maurice {Jpn}) are Group 1 winners kicking off their spring campaigns.
