Newmarket Handicap

Winners and Past Results

The Newmarket Handicap is considered to be the premier open handicap sprint event of the year. This 1200 M Group 1 event is held at the Flemington Racecourse as part of the Melbourne autumn racing carnival and organized by the Victoria Racing Club.

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Offering $1,000,000 as prize money, the Newmarket Handicap is held on Super Saturday, alongside the Group 1 Australian Cup, and five other group races. Super Saturday is usually the second Saturday in March hosted by Victoria Racing Club.

The Newmarket Handicap has been run since 1874 with Maid of Avenel recorded as the first winner. Horses that have the ability to last 1200 metres on Flemington's straight home stretch are usually at an advantage in a race that has seen many top sprinters including the invincible Black Caviar in 2011.

The Newmarket Handicap has since its inception been won by some of the greatest horses in the history of Australian racing. Horses with proven records over the 1200 M distance and course are the ones to consider when looking for a winner or placegetter in the Newmarket Handicap. The lead up races to this event include the 1100 M Lightning Stakes, the 1200 M Oakleigh Plate and the 1200 M Australia Stakes, all of which are Group races. Beaded who came in third in 2011, came in after an impressive victory in the 1200 M Group 3 Hyderabad R.C Stakes held earlier at Caulfield Racecourse.

Horses are more likely to carry on to contest the 1200 M Group 1 William Reid Stakes held at the Moonee Valley racetrack and then fancy their chances in the T.J Smith Stakes held at Randwick. Some horses may compete in the Group 1 Sporting Bet Classic at Morphettville and the Group 1 Doomben 10000 at Doomben Racecourse.

Some of the recent winners apart from Black Caviar include Miss Andretti in 2007, Takeover Target in 2006, Alinghi in 2005, General Nediym in 1998, Schillaci in 1992 and Special in 1998. Black Caviar, managed to set the fastest time at this course, prior to winning the Lightning Stakes and then went on to win her 11th straight victory in the William Reid Stakes. She then went on to capture the TJ Smith Stakes.

Only four horses in the history of the event have managed to win the Newmarket Handicap twice. This includes Aspen in 1880 and 1881, Gothic in 1927 and 1928, Correct in 1960 and 1961 and Razor Sharp in 1982 and 1983.

2012 Newmarket Handicap

Hay List was under a big weight (58.5kg) but looked full of running in the early stages and was keen to race near the speed. In an effort to conserve the gelding's energy, jockey Glyn Schofield dropped Hay List back to midfield where he settled and let others make the pace. Down the straight it was finally time for Schofield to let Hay List loose, and he, Foxwedge and Buffering emerged from the pack to engage in a three horse battle to the line. In the last 100 metres, Foxwedge was shaken off and Hay List was able to just run down a dogged Buffering to win by a short head.

2012 Newmarket Handicap result

1. Hay List
2. Buffering
3. Foxwedge

Then came:

4. Phelan Ready
5. Woorim
6. Rain Affair
7. Liveandletdie
8. King's Rose
9. African Pulse
10. Temple Of Boom
11. Beaded
12. Mr Chard
13. Metallurgical
14. Toorak Toff
15. Facile Figure
16. Eagle Falls
17. Rock Classic
18. Albert The Fat
19. Grand Nirvana
20. Master Of Design
21. Lone Rock
22. Waratah's Secret