The Caulfield Cup picture should be a little clearer after this Saturday with the running of the $400,000 Grp 1 Underwood Stakes (1800m) and $150,000 Grp 3 Naturalism Stakes (2000m) at Caulfield. Both races offer a ballot exemption into the world's richest 2400m turf handicap on October 20 and have attracted outstanding nominations for a meeting that offers free admission and doubles as the official start of the 2012 Spring Racing Carnival. In the weight for age Underwood Stakes, Caulfield Cup n

The Caulfield Cup picture should be a little clearer after this Saturday with the running of the $400,000 Grp 1 Underwood Stakes (1800m) and $150,000 Grp 3 Naturalism Stakes (2000m) at Caulfield. Both races offer a ballot exemption into the world's richest 2400m turf handicap on October 20 and have attracted outstanding nominations for a meeting that offers free admission and doubles as the official start of the 2012 Spring Racing Carnival. In the weight for age Underwood Stakes, Caulfield Cup nominees Southern Speed, Manighar, December Draw, Maluckyday, Mawingo, Mourayan, Sanagas and Niwot are engaged, with some connections to determine whether the Cup or Cox Plate (2040m) a week prior at Moonee Valley is the more suitable target after Saturday's feature. Last year's Caulfield Cup winner Southern Speed resumes her hostilities with Manighar, after the South Australian mare avenged her Australian Cup defeat with victory over Peter Moody's imported gelding in the Grp 2 Makybe Diva Stakes (1600m) at Flemington last start.

Adding depth to the Underwood, which boasts 23 nominations, is Sincero, who impressively won the Memsie Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield last start defeating subsequent Dato Tan Chin Nam Stakes winner Happy Trails. Like Sincero, high class New Zealand visitor Ocean Park, a last start Group 1 winner in his homeland, will use the Underwood as a stepping stone to the $3 million Cox Plate on 27 October.

In the Naturalism Stakes an array of horses will be trying to beat the ballot and win their way into the Cup. Amongst those that would be benefit from the ballot exemption are Fruehling, Lamasery, Polish Knight, Moudre, Mr O'Ceirin, Sea Galleon, Shenzhou Steeds, Shewan and Zurella. Another highlight on a quality card of racing is the Grp 3 Sportingbet Sprint Series Heat 2 (1200m) for the mares, which includes four time Group 1-winning mare Mosheen as well as last year's Grp 1 Myer Classic winner Hurtle Myrtle among its 32 nominations.