Zabeel mare Lights of Heaven (NZ) can bounce back to winning form in the MRC Underwood Stakes (1800m) at Caulfield this Saturday.

The Underwood is the first Group 1 race of the season in Victoria and it’s also the third leg of NZ Bloodstock’s Weight for Age Championship.

The Peter Moody trained Lights of Heaven is currently quoted at $15 for the Caulfield Cup.  Seven Underwood winners have completed the Caulfield Cup double including Mummify (2003) and Elvstroem (2004).

Karaka graduate Shamrocker (O’Reilly) completed the Australian Guineas – Australian Derby double during the autumn for trainer Danny O’Brien.  She is the current Melbourne Cup favourite at $12.  

Fellow Karaka graduate Scarlett Lady (Savabeel) put in an eye-catching performance in the G1 Makfi Challenge Stakes at Hastings two weeks ago and she will be partnered by gun apprentice James MacDonald.

A G1 winner of the Queensland Oaks, she is second favourite in the Caulfield Cup ($11) and the Melbourne Cup ($14).

Like Scarlett Lady, the 2010 VRC Derby winner Lion Tamer (Storming Home) will be having his first start in Australia this season.  He missed the autumn carnivals due to injury and ran on nicely for fourth in the Makfi Challenge.

The winner of the G1 Underwood Stakes (1800m) will earn 10 points in NZ Bloodstock’s WFA Championship, with the ultimate winner of the Championship receiving a magnificent emerald and diamond clasp pearl necklace to the value of $25,000 courtesy of Catanach’s Jewellers.  A perpetual trophy has also been commissioned.