Underwood Stakes 2025 Betting Tips - Caulfield showdown looms between Sir Delius and Buckaroo

Alex Marsh

Editor

Last updated: Wed 17 Sep 2025 09:37

Alex Marsh 17 Sep 2025

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Sir Delius tipped as the best bet based on strong lead-up form
Buckaroo is the main danger, especially after a solid return and last year’s win
Anisette viewed as value for each-way punters

Expired

Buckaroo winning the 2024 Underwood Stakes. (Getty)

A high-class field assembles for the 2025 Underwood Stakes at Caulfield on Saturday, September 20, with the Group 1 feature run over 1800m.

2025 Underwood Stakes Tips
2025 Underwood Stakes Field & Odds

Imports Sir Delius and Buckaroo are among the headline acts, joined by Desert Lightning and Golden Path in a race that often shapes the path to the spring’s major middle-distance contests.

Our betting preview singles out the best bet, next best, and value play.

2025 Underwood Stakes Tips

2025 Underwood Stakes Best Bet - Sir Delius

The import last raced in Europe in the 2024 Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe before making his Australian debut with a strong win in the Group 3 Chairman’s Handicap at Doomben.

That Brisbane triumph came over 2000m, and despite 1600m being short of his best, he was only a stride away from beating Lindermann first-up on September 6 in the Chelmsford Stakes.

The winner was well rated in front, but Sir Delius was strong through the line, and while 1800m is still on the short side, the extra furlong second-up will suit.

There are others here who potentially set up better, but the lightly raced Sir Delius could be the most progressive horse in this Underwood Stakes field.

2025 Underwood Stakes Next Best Bet - Buckaroo

Buckaroo produced a strong return performance when chasing home a potential star in Treasurethe Moment, and he looks set to build nicely as the races get longer.

With that foundation, he again looms as a key player in Melbourne’s premier middle-distance and staying contests this spring. From seven second-up attempts, he has recorded three wins and a third.

The hit-out over 1400m was full of merit, and the Underwood Stakes is a logical progression, having won this race last year before excellent runner-up finishes in both the Turnbull Stakes and the Caulfield Cup.

Sir Delius may have the higher ceiling going forward, but Buckaroo has to be considered one of the main contenders.

2025 Underwood Stakes Value Bet - Anisette

Was there much between Moirs and Anisette in the PB Lawrence Stakes? The latter, a stablemate and another Yulong-owned galloper, is available at a much bigger price here.

In search of better ground out wide, this mare found herself off the speed in a slowly run event and was completely unsuited in that August 16 resumption, where she still ran the fastest last 200m of the meeting.

Instead of racing again, Anisette tuned up with a Flemington jump-out win on September 12, providing the stronger hit-out she needed to handle the 1400m to 1800m rise second-up.

A winner of the 2023 American Oaks, the daughter of Awtaad should be well suited by the rise in distance and she draws kinder than some key threats.

2025 Underwood Stakes Field & Odds

No.	Horse	Trainer	Jockey	Barrier	Weight	Odds
1	Knight’s Choice	John Symons & Sheila Laxon	Robbie Dolan	6	59kg	$76
2	Buckaroo (GB)	Chris Waller	Blake Shinn	8	59kg	$4.40
3	Smokin’ Romans (NZ)	Ciaron Maher	John Allen	2	59kg	$32
4	Desert Lightning (NZ)	Peter G Moody & Katherine Coleman	Luke Nolen	3	59kg	$6.75
5	Casino Seventeen	Gavin Bedggood	Billy Egan	9	59kg	$91
6	Land Legend (FR)	Chris Waller	Michael Dee	12	59kg	$28
7	Middle Earth (GB)	Ciaron Maher	Mark Zahra	1	59kg	$14
8	Golden Path (NZ)	Mick Price & Michael Kent (Jnr)	Jordan Childs	7	59kg	$16
9	Sir Delius (GB)	Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott	Craig Williams	11	59kg	$2.50
10	Moira (CAN)	Chris Waller	Damian Lane	4	57kg	$7.50
11	Zardozi	Ciaron Maher	Jamie Melham	10	57kg	$16
12	Anisette (GB)	Chris Waller	Ben Melham	5	57kg	$19.50