Australian Racing: Buckle up for Buckaroo ride

There’s Group 1 action to look forward to on Saturday at Caulfield, with the 2024 running of the Underwood Stakes being one of three Group races on their card.

There’s also Group race action in Sydney with four Group contests, including two Group 2s scheduled for Randwick.

Race 8 Caulfield

Buckaroo @ 7.50

Race 9 Randwick

I Am Me @ 2.40

Race 7 Randwick

Manaal @ 4.00

Buckaroo for Underwood glory

The previously mentioned Group 1 Underwood Stakes comes up as the eighth race on a 10-race Caulfield card.

A good 4 track is expected for the race, with import Place Du Carrousel expected to feature prominently in the betting.

The six-year-old won over 2000m when racing at this level in her native France, in the Prix de l’Opera over 2000m just under two years ago.

The mare has won twice since, including against male rivals in the Group 2 Prix Foy over 2400m at Longchamp just over a year ago.

Trained by Anthony & Sam Freedman, her best effort in two starts since switching hemispheres came when runner-up in the Group 1 Ranvet Stakes over 2000m at Rosehill in March.

However, she faced just five rivals that day and failed to shine when down the field in the Group 1 Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Randwick the following month.

Returning from a break she looks opposable here, with preference for BUCKAROO, who was third when beaten just under one-and-a-half-lengths in the previously mentioned Ranvet Stakes.

The gelding performed well when beaten less than two lengths into fifth in the 2400m Group 1 Kia Tancred Stakes at Rosehill subsequently.

While Buckaroo finished down the field in the Winx Stakes over 1400m at Randwick first up this prep, she was racing over a distance well short of her best that day.

Improvement followed, with the six-year-old getting home by a narrow margin when contesting the Group 2 Chelmsford Stakes over 1600m back at Randwick earlier this month.

Chris Waller has engaged Joao Moreira for the ride here and, with the extra distance here a positive, he looks capable of steering the son of Fastnet Rock to victory.

Maher sprinter for Shorts success

The most valuable race of the day is The Shorts, a $1,000,000 Group 2 contest set to take place as the penultimate race on Randwick’s 10-race card.

A field of 12 has been declared for the 1100m contest, with Private Eye expected to have his supporters for trainer Joe Pride.

The seven-year-old placed at the highest level when third in the Group 1 All Aged Stakes over 1400m here in April.

Private Eye raced on a heavy 10 track that day but is a versatile type with regard to going, ending that prep with a good fourth in the Group 1 Doomben 10,000 on a soft 7 surface at Doomben.

This son of Al Maher recorded a solid fourth in the Group 3 Concorde Stakes over 1000m here first up this prep, however a wide alley isn’t ideal and it can pay to look elsewhere.

The winner of the Concorde Stakes was I AM ME, with the mare registering a first-up success when racing on a good 4 track that day.

Similar underfoot conditions are expected here, with the six-year-old having shown good form in three Group 1 races over 1200m earlier this year.

Those top level efforts include a third in the William Reid Stakes at Moonee Valley in March, while two fourth place finishes in Adelaide followed.

Ciaron Maher’s mare boasts a good barrier two from the rail here and usually races close to the speed.

Such tactics are expected here, with James McDonald looking capable of steering the mare to her 11th win in 23 career starts.

Manaal to triumph at Randwick

Earlier on the Randwick card, the three-year-old fillies are in action over 1400m in the Group 2 Tea Rose Stakes.

There are a couple of unbeaten fillies in the field with Autumn Glow and Snow In May, both arriving here as the winners of both of their starts to date.

The experienced MANAAL is the pick for the Michael Freedman stable here however.

Winner of half of her eight starts, the filly resumed with a good third in the 1200m Silver Shadow Stakes held on a good 4 surface here last month.

This daughter of Tassort again encountered a good 4 surface when getting home by a narrow margin in the Group 2 Darley Furious Stakes over the same track and trip.

The extra distance here is no issue for the youngster, who won the Group 1 Inglis Sires’ over this course and distance in April.

Regular rider Jason Collett is again set to ride and his mount looks capable of completing a double.