Underwood Stakes Tips - Sir Delius to stamp class in the Underwood Stakes

The Melbourne Cup fancy Sir Delius makes his Melbourne debut after a Queensland win and a narrow Chelmsford Stakes runner-up when resuming, and his profile as a staying star in the making has him marked as a short-priced favourite. 

The Waterhouse–Bott import will need to handle Caulfield’s tighter contours, but with Craig Williams engaged and a strong fitness base, he looks primed to stamp himself as the real deal.

Chris Waller commands attention with a formidable team, headlined by last year’s winner Buckaroo, who signalled he was back in business with a flashing 3rd in the Memsie Stakes (1400m) first-up. His proven ability at 1800m and natural improvement second-up make him a live threat to defend his crown. 

Stablemates Moira and Anisette add further depth: Moira continues to build after two solid runs this campaign, while Anisette impressed in a Flemington trial and looks ready to atone after missing a run. Waller also has Land Legend, an eye toward the Cups

Other major contenders include Desert Lightning, Middle Earth and Zardozi. Desert Lightning edged out Moira at Moonee Valley in the So You Think Stakes (1500m) recently with Zardozi 5th and the 2024 Melbourne Cup (3200m) winner, Knight’s Choice, in 6th position. 

Smokin Romans is likely to hold the lead from barrier 2 with Golden Path (barrier 7) and Sir Delius (11) looking to cross over to be handy from a clump that may include Desert Lightning, while the likes of Middle Earth, Anisette and Moira loom as potential backmarkers. Expect those in the first few to potentially break away from the rest of the group, who will need to stay in touch and pull the trigger at the right time to potentially run down Sir Delius. 

Last year’s winner Buckaroo looms as the major threat after flashing home in the Memsie Stakes and will only improve second-up, while the mare Moira, is building momentum But I am happy to be with the race favourite, Sir Delius, who shapes as the horse to beat. The Waterhouse/Bott import has already stamped his class in Australia with a dominant winter win at Doomben before resuming in the Chelmsford Stakes at Randwick, where he narrowly missed Lindermann but still put a clear gap on Vauban and Ceolwulf. Importantly, he clocked a sharp benchmark, running 12.3 lengths faster than standard, a figure that screams Group 1 quality, particularly as he strips fitter and gets out to an even more suitable trip. The lightly raced five-year-old has a stack of natural speed to slide across and sit handy. Unless they go for home way too early, he will be mighty tough to get past in the straight.

Smokin’ Romans is one to consider for place markets and exotics, including first four’s. The veteran will look to dictate and worked hard early to lead at the track and trip at his most recent start before just going down late when run down by Revelare. That horse has since come out and booked himself a spot in the Melbourne Cup by claiming the Archer Stakes (2500m) last weekend. The query for Smokin’ Romans is the drop to the 1800m but he has a history of being a sharp improver on benchmark figures when third up in the past, while he might enjoy a bit of a soft time of it early on.