Group 1 Underwood Stakes and AFL Grand Final combine to create tantalising Saturday of sport

Racing Victoria and Melbourne Racing Club have set up a tantalising Saturday of sport with Group 1 racing a curtain-raiser for the AFL Grand Final.

Russian Camelot, since retired to stud, claimed the Group 1 Underwood Stakes last year. Picture: Racing Photos

For the second year running Group 1 racing will act as the curtain raiser for the AFL Grand Final.

Racing Victoria and Melbourne Racing Club on Wednesday confirmed the Group 1 Underwood Stakes meeting, originally slated for Sunday after the Grand Final, would be run on the Saturday.

The switch, made in consultation with broadcaster Channel 7, will complete a bumper 24 hours of Group 1 racing in Melbourne with the Moir Stakes at The Valley on Friday night.

The Mornington meeting, scheduled for Saturday initially, has been moved to Sunday.

But Melbourne’s lockdown extension – through to September 23 based on the Victoria’s vaccination uptake – has all but ended chances of a crowd being on-course for the Caulfield Cup on October 23.

The Underwood Stakes, previously held at Caulfield, will be the first Group 1 at Sandown since 1996.

The AFL Grand Final – pushed back to late October last year – neatly coincided with the Cox Plate and gave Melburnians living under Covid restrictions a welcomed distraction.

The Underwood Stakes meeting also coincides with Epsom Day in Sydney.

MRC chief executive Josh Blanksby said; “It puts more eyes on racing leading into it (AFL coverage) especially those later races and good to have a Group 1 back at Sandown, a few ticks there,” Blanksby said.

“Obviously it’s a more traditional punting day the Saturday, but having the Group 1 Underwood with Group 1 Epsom Day is nice synergy for Channel 7 (leading into the Grand Final).”

The MRC’s in-home dining “super-box” experience will be AFL-themed to mark the sporting double-header.

“Disappointing not to be able to have crowds (Underwood) but we’ll push on,” Blanksby said.

The schedule change also gives horses aiming to back-up into the Group 1 Turnbull Stakes the following Saturday at Flemington an extra day to recover.

Originally published as Group 1 Underwood Stakes and AFL Grand Final combine to create tantalising Saturday of sport