The third leg of the NZ Bloodstock Spring Weight-For-Age Championship has attracted a stellar field in the G1 Underwood Stakes (1800m) at Caulfield on Saturday.
A high-class cast of 14 horses has been assembled for the weekend’s Group 1 feature that was last year taken out by Thorn Park stallion Ocean Park (NZ) on his way to claiming the 2013 Championship crown.
Of the 14 runners in the Underwood, 11 have already been successful at Group 1 level.
Atlantic Jewel (Fastnet Rock) is unbeaten in 9 starts. The Mark Kavanagh trained mare returned from a long injury lay off to score comprehensive victories in the G1 NZB Memsie Stakes and G2 Stocks Stakes as well.
The other horse at the top of the standings is the Darren Weir trained Puissance de Lune (Sharmardal) on the back of his dominant performance in the G2 Lawrence Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield and a close second in the G1 Makybe Diva Stakes (1600m) at Flemington.
The horse that lowered the colours of Puissance de Lune last start was fellow European import Foreteller (Dansili). He won the Makybe Diva in a upset result and he also played the role of giant-killer in the G1 Ranvet Stakes during the autumn carnival.
(NZ) will be well represented by It’s A Dundeel (High Chaparral) and Silent Achiever (O’Reilly).
The Murray Baker trained It’s A Dundeel was unlucky on his seasonal debut in the G1 NZB Memsie Stakes and a step up to 1800m will suit the four-year-old colt that captured the Sydney 3YO Triple Crown last season.
The unluckiest runner out of the G1 NZB Memsie Stakes was undoubtedly Silent Achiever. The Roger James trained NZ Derby winner went to the line untested after jockey Steven Arnold failed to find clear running in the straight.
Leading owner Lloyd Williams has two runners with leading credentials – Melbourne Cup winner Green Moon (Montjeu) and Breeders’ Cup runner-up Sea Moon (Beat Hollow).
Green Moon is second-up from a spell following an eye-catching run behind Atlantic Jewel in the G1 NZB Memsie Stakes and is a horse that will appreciate the rise in distance.
Another European import engaged is G1 German Derby winner Waldpark (Dubawi) who is trained by Anthony Freedman.
Champion Victorian trainer Peter Moody has entered Eoropean stakes winners Manighar (Linamix) and My Quest for Peace (Galileo).
Lightly-raced G1 Australian Derby winner Ethiopia (Helenus) has been competitive at the elite level his entire career and ran a bold race in the G1 Makybe Diva Stakes. He is another that will appreciate the increase in distance.
Interstate stables have entered the G1 winners Mr Moet (Mosaytor) from WA, Happy Trails (Good Journey) from SA and Dear Demi (Dehere) from NSW.
The winner of the Group 1 Underwood Stakes will receive 10 points in NZB’s Caulfield Spring WFA Championship with second earning 8 points, third earning 6 points, fourth earning 4 points, fifth earning 3 points and sixth to eighth each earning 1 point.
View the current leader board for NZB Spring WFA Championship at Caulfield at:
http://www.nzb.co.nz/info/other.cfm?content_id=165415