Australia Preview for September 19, 2026

Four A$1 million ($720,000) contests highlight Australia's racing this weekend. One of them – the Seven Sunrise Stakes (G2) isn’t much of a betting proposition, with Autumn Glow dominating a five-horse field over a mile. But the other three are very interesting contests worth a close look.

Caulfield, Race 7, 1:35 a.m. Saturday ET

Underwood (G1), 1,800 meters (about 1 1/8 miles), weight-for-age, three-year-olds and up

• $10 win/$30 show: #5 Cosmic Crusader ($40)
• $2 trifecta: 1,5 with 1,5,6 with 1,2,5,6,8 ($24)

This is an intriguing race, with a field not as strong as might have been anticipated. However, some very good performers are here.

#1 Lindermann (6-5) comes down from Sydney with very solid credentials. Generally a frontrunner, he led most of the way for an easy victory in the Chelmsford (G2) last start. Last term he was second to Sir Delius in the Queen Elizabeth (G1), ahead of Autumn Glow, and that’s very good form for this event.

Lindermann’s trainer Chris Waller has two other very good chances, both Northern Hemisphere imports. #2 Buckaroo (13-2) won this race two years ago and was second to Sir Delius last year, and he put in a nice effort for fifth when resuming in the Memsie. #6 Birdman (3-1) is a good stayer with form over this type of distance, most notably when winning the Peter Young (G2) last March.

The one that could beat them all is the former West Australian #5 Cosmic Crusader (4-1). Winner of the Northerly (G1) over this trip last December, he’s won twice in Melbourne this campaign and ran on strongly after being caught wide when third in hot company in the Memsie (G1). With a kinder barrier draw here, he looks the one.

#8 Kingswood (21-1), a Group 1 winner in New Zealand last season, won nicely on his return at Caulfield Aug. 29 and is one to include for exotics.

Randwick, Race 9, 2:35 a.m. Saturday ET

The Shorts (G2), 1,100 meters (about 5 1/2 furlongs), three-year-olds and up

• $10 win/$30 show: #2 Joliestar ($40)
• $1 trifecta: 2,3 with 1,2,3 with 1,2,3,5,6,7,8 ($24) 

Several horses are on trial here for slots in The Everest (G1), with connections of many horses hoping to persuade a slot holder that their charge should represent them in the world’s richest turf race.

The biggest name in the field is the outstanding mare #2 Joliestar (5-2). Winner of the TJ Smith (G1) last autumn, she then traveled across the world and finished a close third in the Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee (G1) at Royal Ascot to subsequent Haydock Sprint Cup (G1) winner Almeraq. She has a very good record fresh, and the only thing that counts against her here is a wide barrier draw of 11.

#3 Headwall (2-1) will have many fans. After missing a year due to injury, he was a slightly unlucky second to top mare Tempted in the Concorde (G2) two weeks ago. Any improvement on that effort will make him hard to beat here.

Also likely to be well backed is #1 Ninja (4-1). After tackling races up to a mile in his last campaign, he’s being kept to sprinting for the moment and showed plenty when winning the Missile (G2) Aug. 8. This is the best sprint field he’s faced, but he looks up to it.

Others with class to figure in the finish here are resuming Stradbroke (G1) winner #6 Spicy Martini (23-1), quality mare #7 Marhoona (12-1), the speedy #8 Grafterburners (19-1), and old campaigner #5 Mazu (13-1).

Caulfield, Race 9, 2.50am Saturday ET

Sir Rupert Clarke (G1), 1,400 meters (about 7 furlongs), handicap, three-year-olds and up

• $10 win/$20 show: #8 Feroce ($30)
• $1 trifecta: 6, 8 with 2, 6, 8 with 1, 2, 5, 6, 7, 8 ($16)

Handicap conditions make this race an even contest. The race features a lot of horses that have found winning hard to come by at weight-for-age dropping back to a handicap to try and score a big-race success.

The favorite is Chris Waller’s quality mare #6 Lady Shenandoah (3-1). She was good enough to win three Group 1 contests as a three-year-old and though she hasn’t won a race since March 2025, she’s mostly run in top company at weight-for-age.

#5 Angel Capital (7-2) was an unlucky fourth in this last year. He’s another horse that seems to find wins hard to come by, but down to 123 pounds here there will be many that fancy him.

#2 Evaporate (14-1) did manage to eke out a victory last start at Sandown. He’s one that definitely will appreciate the return to a handicap, and his pattern of racing normally sets up well for Caulfield. Against that, he’ll need serious luck from barrier 17.

#1 Tom Kitten (17-1) is a classy galloper burdened with a lot of weight, while the improving import #7 Warnie (10-1) signalled his readiness with victory at Sandown Sept. 9. But the one I like for odds is #8 Feroce (15-1). Winner of the Australian Guineas (G1) last year, he’s been a bit up and down since then but he did run third in this last year and was a nice fifth when resuming Aug. 15 to Cosmic Crusader. He’s been freshened for this and with a midfield draw he can force his way through to a minor upset.