Underwood Stakes Day will see 10 races run at Caulfield on Saturday, including the $1 million Underwood Stakes for the middle-distance horses and the $1 million Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes for the sprinter-milers. The rail is out 7m for the entire circuit and the track is rated Good, with sunshine and warm weather predicted on race day.
We take you through each race on the card and bring you all of our best bets for Caulfield below! And if you're keen to have a bet on Saturday and want to try out a new bookie, why not try Unibet?
Caulfield Racing Tips: Saturday, September 19th 2026
Race 1: The Taggart 1800m – 12:10pm AEST
(3) Emperor Tzu has won his past two starts at Sandown-Hillside over 1800m and looks primed to try and make it a hat-trick of wins. The four-year-old gelding should settle handy, just behind the speed with apprentice jockey Jabez Johnstone continuing his association with the son of Maurice. This is Emperor Tzu’s first look at Caulfield, but he relishes the distance, so I am expecting a strong performance.
(16) Jenny Multabella will carry the lightest weight of 56kg in the race and she has been runner up at her past two runs. The latest came over course and distance when beaten a length. She will likely have to settle in the second half of the field and try to run them down in the straight.
(3) Emperor Tzu WIN
$6.00 (1 Unit)
Race 2: HKJC World Pool Classics Preview 1800m – 12:40pm AEST
(1) Arashi Flash broke his maiden at his third start, leading throughout at Geelong over 1547m. The last 100m was visually impressive and the step up to 1800m looks within reach for the colt. Lachlan Neindorf retains the ride and I am hoping he can find the rail before considering a trail behind Quick Finish, as that filly led and won at her recent start. Arashi Flash seems to be getting better with each start so let’s hope the colt is ready to win again.
(3) Icy You is a stablemate to Arashi Flash and should be saved for one crack at them. He won over the mile at Echuca when sitting back and then working around them between the 800m to the 400m. He belted rivals in the end by almost five lengths. The gelding has strong claims.
(1) Arashi Flash WIN
$3.40 (1 Unit)
Race 3: Peninsula Kubota Handicap 1100m – 1:15pm AEST
(6) Pallaton changes stables for his first-up run as he joins Grahame Begg from the Michael Freedman yard. Back in February he captured the Group 2 Zeditave Stakes at Caulfield. He was outclassed in the Group 2 Arrowfield 3YO Sprint at Randwick in April before being turned out for a spell. He was fair in a recent Pakenham trial and has won fresh before. There is good speed here, so let’s hope he doesn’t get too far back in the run from gate two because he should be running on strongly.
(3) Bev’s Nine is the winner of six races from eight starts in New South Wales and ventures south for a first-up assignment. He ticked over nicely for third in a recent trial at Warwick Farm, just finished ahead of Linebacker who was doing his best work late. He should be ready to run a big race fresh.
(6) Pallaton E/W
$6.50/$2.40 (1U/1.5U)
Race 4: Manhari Thousand Guineas Prelude 1400m – 1:50pm AEST
(6) Portinari is still a maiden after five runs but she continues to show promise, finishing third in the Listed Atlantic Jewel Stakes last start, beating home a number of today’s rivals on that occasion. Blake Shinn has options from the wide draw, either opting for a colder ride this time and coming with one run, or trying to press forward three-wide, ideally with some cover, to be within striking distance.
(10) Saintly Dancer finished sixth in the Atlantic Jewel Stakes after drawing wide. This time, she draws a much better gate and should settle closer in the run. She won her maiden two starts ago and has strong each-way claims in the race.
(6) Portinari WIN
$4.20 (1.5 Units)
Race 5: Sportsbet Caulfield Guineas Prelude 1400m – 2:25pm AEST
(2) American Eagle is unbeaten in two career starts with the colt narrowly capturing the Group 3 McNeil Stakes. Based on last start, there’s no reason the lightly raced three-year-old can’t win again. He draws wide, along with Blind Raise, which makes the map interesting. Mark Zahra probably won’t want to use him up early and let him come with one run.
(3) Blind Raise only has one blemish in four starts, but he quickly put that behind him with a dominant first-up victory in the Listed McKenzie Stakes. The gelding is likely to roll forward from the wide gate and looks hardest to beat in a good Prelude.
(2) American Eagle WIN
$4.20 (1.5 Units)
Race 6: Sportsbet How Now Stakes 1200m – 3:00pm AEST
(10) Bridal Waltz could surpass $1 million in stakes with victory and her first-up second placing in the Group 3 The Heath 1100 was pretty good as she beat home the rest of the field comfortably. She has a good second-up record, loves the distance, and Ben Melham should have options from gate five. Whether the mare leads or trails, she will be ready to show her best and looks hard to beat.
(3) Point Barrow faced a tough task in the Group 1 Moir Stakes at her return to racing and should sharply improve here. The wide gate is once again a concern as she will be well back in the field, but she has shown her closing speed numerous times in her previous preparation, including a last-to-first victory in the Group 3 Red Roses at Flemington on Oaks Day.
(10) Bridal Waltz WIN
$2.45 (2.5 Units)
Race 7: Henley Homes Underwood Stakes 1800m – 3:35pm AEST
(5) Cosmic Crusader won the Bletchingly Stakes and PB Lawrence Stakes before finishing third in the Group 1 Memsie Stakes won by Beiwacht. Star Perth jockey Willie Pike flies over to ride the gelding once again and should be more positive from gate three after settling too far back in the Memsie. He still ran well and if Pikey can settle a bit closer, Cosmic Crusader should be hard to hold out late.
(1) Lindermann can set the pace from the inside barrier and if he gets away with some cheap splits, he will be hard to catch. The Chris Waller-trained seven-year-old gelding won the Chelmsford Stakes last start, beating Ceolwulf by almost two lengths.
(5) Cosmic Crusader WIN
$2.60 (2.5 Units)
Race 8: Tobin Brothers Naturalism Stakes 2000m – 4:15pm AEST
(6) Campaldino will appreciate the step up in distance after failing to beat a runner home in the Group 2 Chelmsford Stakes. He still hit the line well behind the pack after being snagged back to last. From the wide gate, this could be a different ride as the Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott runner prefers to race on the speed. He has a much better second-up record and won the Listed Randwick City Stakes over Athabascan back in March. At double figures, he looks a good each-way bet in a very tricky race.
(14) Zahrann returned with a fourth-placed run at the track over 1700m and the 2000m is perfect for the former Irish galloper. That first-up run was an eye-catching performance and should improve again with 55kg. He won a Group 3 race over 2011m at Curragh last year, which shows the class of this horse.
(6) Campaldino E/W
$14/$4.00 (1U/1.5U)
Race 9: Sportsbet Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes 1400m – 4:50pm AEST
(6) Lady Shenandoah has a losing sequence of nine but gets her chance to break through for a much-needed win, although the capacity field of 16 runners won’t make it easy. She will jump from the inside barrier which will make Craig Williams wary of being trapped on the fence a few pairs back with plenty of speed drawn outside. She ran well enough for fourth in the Group 1 Winx Stakes won by Autumn Glow.
(7) Warnie proved too good in the Group 3 Chautauqua Stakes at his latest start. He should be looking to settle midfield so that he can run home strongly. He hasn’t won in four attempts at the track though, the latest being a fourth placing in the Listed Regal Roller Stakes.
(6) Lady Shenandoah WIN
$5.00 (1 Unit)
Race 10: Ive > Handicap 1400m – 5:25pm AEST
(17) Cruiserweight looks aptly named here carrying just 55kg and should be in the firing line early from gate four (after the scratching of Fundamental Nature). He won a pair of races during winter and was last seen finishing second at Sandown-Hillside. If he gets normal racing luck, he should prove hard to beat.
(19) Savoyard was warming to the task late when finishing seventh over 1100m. The step up to 1400m looks suitable for his second-up assignment. Expect him to go close in this race.
(17) Cruiserweight WIN
$2.45 (2.5 Units)
