Newmarket Handicap 2023
The Newmarket Handicap is one of the most prestigious sprint races on the Australian racing calendar and it will take place at Flemington Racecourse this Saturday, 11 March 2023. With a purse of $1.5 million and a field limit of 24 starters, this Group One Handicap race always attracts the best sprinters in the land.
The track conditions are expected to be fast and the pace is likely to be hot, with Snapper, Front Page, and Chain Of Lightning expected to be prominent closest to the inside part of the track. However, the quickest of those drawn out wide is The Astrologist.
Lofty Strike is a good each-way play in this open affair. The five-year-old gelding has come back in superb fashion this season, defeating Uncommon James in slick time first-up, before hitting the line hard for 2nd in the G1 Oakleigh Plate over 1100m. He stays down in the weights at 52.5kg and appears well-drawn to go through his gears out wide. All of his straight-course runs have been good, so he is expected to perform well on Saturday.
In Secret, a Godolphin filly, is the main danger to Lofty Strike with only 51.5kg. She looked like the winner when she got through along the rail in the G1 Surround Stakes last start, but just peaked on her effort late. Coming back to 1200m looks positive, and a return to the straight is an obvious tick given her devastating win in the G1 Coolmore over this route. She is a top contender for the Newmarket Handicap.
I Wish I Win was the obvious eye-catcher in the G1 Lightning Stakes (1000m), zooming home from last at the 400m to finish 2nd, beaten by only 0.4L. His second-up record is good (4:1-3-0), and he’s yet to finish worse than 2nd in four goes over this distance. He is hard to knock, but the weight he’s giving to some very smart 3-year-olds could be a challenge.
Private Eye was simply brilliant winning the G2 Gilgai Stakes (1200m) here on resumption last campaign, clocking a sizzling 1:08.33. He then went very close in The Everest, so his 1200m form is impossible to knock. The only negatives here are the big weight (58kg) and the inside draw. All of his main threats on paper have drawn middle/outside barriers, which could give him a tough challenge.
Overall, Lofty Strike is a good each-way play in this open affair, but there are at least five legitimate hopes in this cracking race. The Newmarket Handicap is always a thrilling race to watch, and this year’s event is no exception. With such a talented field of sprinters, it will be interesting to see who will come out on top and claim the $1.5 million prize.
Quick Tips
Quick tips for the 2023 Newmarket Handicap at Flemington Racecourse:
Each-way play: Lofty Strike (9)
Main danger: In Secret (15)
Eye-catcher: I Wish I Win (3)
Strong contender: Private Eye (1)
Watch out for: The Astrologist (drawn out wide)
Be sure to check out all the odds on offer from our bookies to find the best value for your dollar!
