Underwood Stakes Tips - Can Pericles snare his first Group 1?

Market tips and preview are included below. 

Pericles was up against some of the very best in the autumn without winning and his campaign culminated with a runner-up performance in the Doncaster Mile (1600m). The Godolphin galloper resumed with a 3rd at Caulfield in the PB Lawrence Stakes (1400m) before registering an easy win at Moonee Valley over the 1500m last time, going 10.6 lenghts faster than standard benchmark. He can improve on that at his third run this time in. 

Place Du Carrousel looks unders in the market for mine and I am not convinced about the Via Sistina form from his first run in Australia back in March when runner-up ove the 2000m in the Ranvet Stakes (2000m). She was completely run off her feet in the Queen Elizabeth Stakes (2000m) as part of the beaten brigade behind Pride Of Jenni and will need to imrpove on what she has shown so far. 

Buckaroo was present in those races and comes into this third up. The Chris Waller-trained galloper took out the Chelmsford Stakes (1600m) at Randwick at his most recent start, going 7.5 lengths faster than standard. Joao Moreira rides and it will be interesting to see what the magic man does from barrier 10 after Buckaroo went forward last time. 

The Caulfield Cup (2400m) second favourite, Fawkner Park, resumes and closed out his autumn campaign with a win in the Q22. I am happy to take a wait and see approach with the Anabel Neasham gelding as his best might be yet to come. 

The value might like with Duke De Sessa, who comes in with the best last start benchmark figures of any runner, having gone 17.7 lenghts faster than standard benchmark at his most recent start when runner-up behind Young Werther over the 2000m at Caulfield. Look for him to vye for the lead with the last start winner, Deny Knowledge. 

Kovalica is in the market and was impressive when resuming with a 3rd behind Royal Patronage and Amelia’s Jewel in the Tramway Stakes (1400m) at Randwick. He hasnt won in over a year. Hard to make a case for the rest. The 2019 Melbourne Cup (3200m) winner, Vow And Declare, is a roughie worth considering. The South Australian Derby (2500m) winner, Coco Sun, will need to improve on her first up effort. 

Happy to be with Pericles in the Underwood Stakes. The race favourite was excellent without winning in the autumn and missed out on a bit of luck in some of the major races in Sydney, while his Caulfield form has been rock solid this year with placings behind Mr Brightside and Gentleman Roy. Pinstriped was runner-up in the latter and subsequently won the Memsie Stakes (1400m). The slight query is the 1800m as he hasnt been seen over that trip in a while but the son of Street Boss should be right at his peak third up and this looks to be a weaker Group 1 than some of those he performed well in during the autumn. 

Willing to have something small and each-way on Vow And Declare. The old warhorse was solid when resuming off a nine-week break with a 5th at Caulfield and figures from that race rate highly. He has performed well when second up off similar breaks at his last two preparations and went 18 lengths faster than standard a year ago when runner-up behind Alligator Blood in the Might And Power Stakes (2000m), while he was 4th at this stage in the autumn in the Australian Cup (2000m), going a tick under 15 lengths faster behind the likes of Cascadian, Pride Of Jenni and Mr Brightside. He can be a surprise packet and is worth something at a big price.