The Group 1 Newmarket Handicap makes up part of this weekend’s Super Saturday card at Flemington.
A field of 17 will race down the famous straight at Headquarters for a share in $1.5 million, and it is last-start Black Caviar Lightning Stakes winner Home Affairs who is set to start as favourite.
Last year’s winner Zoutori is back to defend his crown, while proven Group 1 winners Masked Crusader, Artorius, and September Run have also accepted.
For out thoughts on each runner, check out our 2022 Newmarket Handicap Preview below!
1. Masked Crusader (13)
- Group 1’s: 1 (2021 William Reid Stakes)
- Track: 1:0-0-0
- Distance: 7:5-2-0
- Trainer: Michael, Wayne & John Hawkes
- Jockey: Jye McNeil
- Odds: $13.00
Finished off only fairly for fifth first-up in the Lightning Stakes after a slow start. Has winning form second-up and was only a length off Mizzy at this stage of his prep in last year’s Canterbury Stakes. Went on to win the William Reid two weeks later and is always a threat over this distance with five wins on the board. Enormous when a nose second to Nature Strip in last year’s Everest and is better than his last two starts suggest.
2. Home Affairs (16)
- Group 1’s: 2 (2021 Coolmore Stud Stakes, 2022 Black Caviar Lightning Stakes)
- Track: 2:2-0-0
- Distance: 4:1-0-1
- Trainer: Chris Waller
- Jockey: James McDonald
- Odds: $3.70
Dual Group 1 winner and deserving favourite. Lifted and found something extra to fend off Nature Strip in the Lightning and only needs to hold that form. Won the Coolmore Stud Stakes during the spring over the track and trip by a clear margin and has also won second-up in the past. Unbeaten at Headquarters and will take a power of beating if she finds the clear.
3. Lost And Running (9)
- Group 1’s: 0
- Track: 0:0-0-0
- Distance: 4:2-0-0
- Trainer: John O’Shea
- Jockey: Hugh Bowman
- Odds: $3.90
Searching for her hat-trick. Won The Hunter at Newcastle to round out the spring and resumed a clear two-length winner of a Group 3 at Randwick last month. Runner-up has since gone on to win and this does look the next logical step for her up to Group 1 level for the first time. Absolutely flies fresh and was good late in The Everest last year running fourth.
4. Zoutori (1)
- Group 1’s: 1 (2021 Newmarket Handicap)
- Track: 15:5-1-3
- Distance: 17:6-1-3
- Trainer: Matthew Ellerton
- Jockey: Damian Lane
- Odds: $41.00
Defending Newmarket champion. Has done his best racing on his home track but seems to have lost a gear recently. Looked well on his way to a win early in the spring before finishing third-last in the Cantala Stakes. Return effort in the Oakleigh Plate three weeks ago was equally as plain, but has had to overcome wide gates in both of those runs. Capable of much better and is worth considering for a place.
5. Count De Rupee (7)
- Group 1’s: 0
- Track: 0:0-0-0
- Distance: 6 :4-1-0
- Trainer: Robert & Luke Price
- Jockey: Brock Ryan
- Odds: $26.00
Making his Flemington debut and loves racing over 1200m. Hardly put a foot wrong during the spring finding the money in all four of his starts. Won The Gong at Kembla Grange over the mile to end his prep and has since trialled well ahead of his return. Led I’m Thunderstruck in the Golden Eagle and was only run down just before the line. Might be in need of the run but does have claims at big odds.
6. Levante (10)
- Group 1’s: 2 (2022 Berkett Telegraph, BCD Group Sprint)
- Track: 0:0-0-0
- Distance: 4:2-1-1
- Trainer: Ken & Bev Kelso
- Jockey: Michael Dee
- Odds: $20.00
Dual Group 1 winner in New Zealand and is now four weeks between runs. Missed a place only twice from 15 starts across the ditch and tends to fly fresh. Has gone toe-to-toe with Entriviere twice now and can measure up in her Australian debut.
7. Halvorsen (11)
- Group 1’s: 0
- Track: 16:5-2-1
- Distance: 10:3-1-1
- Trainer: Robbie Griffiths & Matthew de Kock
- Jockey: Dean Holland
- Odds: $41.00
Won a Stakes race over shorter here at Flemington last November and was also the winner of the Standish Handicap over the track and trip in January. Comes in fresh now and should appreciate the drop in weight.
8. Oxley Road (15)
- Group 1’s: 0
- Track: 4:1-1-0
- Distance: 2:1-0-0
- Trainer: Peter Moody
- Jockey: Blaike McDougall
- Odds: $19.00
Faded late after racing on-speed in the Rubiton Stakes at Caulfield first-up, but was seen doing his best work late for third in the Oakleigh Plate last time out. Should be fitter for those two runs and was also 1.75L off Masked Crusader in The Heath last year. Capable of performing at this level and is a definite each-way chance.
9. Poland (14)
- Group 1’s: 0
- Track: 1:1-0-0
- Distance: 0:0-0-0
- Trainer: Michael Maroney
- Jockey: Michael Poy
- Odds: $101
Unplaced in three starts at this level and hasn’t won a race in over a year. Hit the line strongly in the Oakleigh Plate but would need to improve lengths to trouble some of these.
10. Quantico (12)
- Group 1’s: 0
- Track: 1:1-0-0
- Distance: 7:4-0-0
- Trainer: John O’Shea
- Jockey: Kerrin McEvoy
- Odds: $16.00
Claimed a hat-trick during the spring that concluded with a clear 1.5L win over the track and distance on Cup Day. Has trailed extremely well in the lead-up to his return and looks a definite Group 1 horse in the making. Racing at this level for the first time and is probably one of the best value plays in the race.
11. Roch ’n’ Horse (3)
- Group 1’s: 0
- Track: 0:0-0-0
- Distance: 9:2-3-0
- Trainer: Michael Maroney
- Jockey: Patrick Maloney
- Odds: $67.00
Comes out of the same Group 1 races as fellow Kiwi superstar Levante. Nearly beat that horse on the line in the Telegraph and has raced well fresh. Would prefer to watch.
12. September Run (8)
- Group 1’s: 1 (2020 Coolmore Stud Stakes)
- Track: 7:3-1-0
- Distance: 7:2-0-0
- Trainer: Chris Waller
- Jockey: Ms Jamie Kah
- Odds: $26.00
First run back since the spring and has performed admirably down the Flemington straight in the past. Unfortunately, her win in the Coolmore was some time ago and she’s only found the money twice since. Gave a good sight for fourth behind Nature Strip in the VRC Classic last November and has trailed well in the lead-up. Tough to know if her best days are behind her.
13. Snapdancer (17)
- Group 1’s: 0
- Track: 2:0-1-0
- Distance: 6:4-1-1
- Trainer: Ciaron Maher & David Eustace
- Jockey: Harry Coffey
- Odds: $15.00
Making her Group 1 debut. In search of a hat-trick after winning on the Gold Coast first-up, followed by a brilliant 2.6L win in the Triscay Stakes at Randwick a month ago. Has run some big races fresh and is also a previous winner third-up. The Maher and Eustace stable is flying, her recent form is hard to fault, and a win would not surprise.
14. Swats That (6)
- Group 1’s: 0
- Track: 7:0-3-1
- Distance: 8:2-2-0
- Trainer: Leon & Troy Corstens
- Jockey: Craig Williams
- Odds: $16.00
Strong through the line first-up in the Lightning and should take plenty of improvement away from that performance. Has mixed her form in her second run back but has placed twice to Nature Strip in her career. Ran home well in this same race last year and out to 1200m strengthens her claims.
15. The Astrologist (4)
- Group 1’s: 0
- Track: 10:3-2-3
- Distance: 9:4-1-3
- Trainer: Leon & Troy Corstens
- Jockey: Fred Kersley
- Odds: $61.00
Fought on well first-up in the Standish Handicap and was far from disgraced back to 1000m in the Lightning. Has won third-up previously but does look a little outclassed against some of these.
16. Artorius (2)
- Group 1’s: 1 (2021 Blue Diamond Stakes)
- Track: 2:0-1-1
- Distance: 4:1-1-1
- Trainer: Anthony & Sam Freedman
- Jockey: Craig Newitt
- Odds: $11.00
Has the ability but has been a costly bet ever since he won the Blue Diamond. Over-raced first-up in the Rubiton Stakes but still managed to clock some speedy sectionals in the finish. Placed behind Anamoe and Home Affairs during the spring and 1200m is definitely more his go. Can win if he produces his best and settles into the run.
17. Finance Tycoon (5)
- Group 1’s: 0
- Track: 3:1-1-0
- Distance: 5:2-0-1
- Trainer: Danny O’Brien
- Jockey: Josh Richards
- Odds: $26.00
Led all the way to win the Zedidative Stakes at Caulfield. Overcame a wide run in transit to finish third at The Valley first-up and should appreciate racing back on his home track. Fourth in the Blue Diamond last year but hasn’t raced at this level since.
