Roch ‘N’ Horse eyes back-to-back Newmarket Handicap victories
There will be 16 runners doing battle down the famous Flemington straight in the $1.5 million Group 1 Newmarket Handicap this Saturday, with Roch ‘N’ Horse ($31) looking to become only the second horse ever to go back-to-back in the race.
The online bookmakers‘ favourite going into this year’s edition of the 1200m feature is the star Peter Moody gelding I Wish I Win ($3.90), who flashed home at the end of the Group 1 Black Caviar Lightning over 1000m last start to indicate that the six furlongs will be perfect for the 2022 Golden Eagle winner.
Coolmore Stud Stakes winner In Secret ($5) will be tackling a Group 1 handicap against the older horses for the first time in her eight-start career, and along with Buenos Noches ($11) these two three-year-old fillies can give this race a fair shake with 51.5kg and 50.5kg, respectively.
After winning the Group 2 Gilgai Stakes down the Flemington straight for the first time, Private Eye ($7.50) – who also ran second in The Everest – will be carrying the top weight of 58kg.
Of the local hopes we have Lofty Strike ($9), who won the Group 2 Rubiton Stakes first-up before going on to finish runner-up in the Group 1 Oakleigh Plate, as well as Star Patrol ($17), although he has to show that he can match it with the Group 1 sprinters after he finished sixth in the Oakleigh last start.
One of the runners that will be on notice for many punters will be the Peter & Paul Snowden-trained Mazu ($11), who will be first-up in the Newmarket coming off a strong spring campaign where he finished in the placings at his last three starts in the Group 2 Premiere Stakes, The Everest and Winners Stakes, after winning the Group 1 Doomben 10,000 in May last year.
2023 Newmarket Handicap field
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