It has been a busy few weeks for horse racing and with the Golden Slipper (and its five Group 1 races) just a week away, Newmarket Handicap Day appears noticeably quieter – although not without some great battles.
2022 Newmarket Handicap Winner #4 Roch ‘N’ Horse ($20 on BossBet) is back to defend her title, however, her last start may cast doubt – not that the $101 she won at last year didn’t. Equal favourite, #15 In Secret ($4.40) – ridden by Jamie Kah – hasn’t missed a place in eight starts but will face tough opposition in #3 I Wish I Win (also equal favourite at $4.40) and #9 Lofty Strike ($8.50) who’ve both got claims following promising starts in Feb. For a longshot pick, I’m bullish on #14 Swats That ($51).
Ciaron Maher & David Eustace trained #7 Right You Are ($3.20) looks to make it five in a row but he’ll have to outrun my best bet of the week to get it done. Check out my Newmarket Handicap race day tips below.
Best Bet – Flemington R6 #4 Marocchino ($6.50)
Like the profile of Marocchino as he makes his way over from Western Australia. He’s struck career-best form as a late six-year-old and generally kept his form once he’s found it. He went on a similar run in early 2021 and the only thing that brought his winning streak to an end was heading for a spell. It makes sense for Lou Luciani to test him in the east after stakes wins at his last three at Ascot. Should control the race from the front and if so he will be hard to run down.
Best Each-Way – Rosehill R8 #7 Purplepay ($31)
William Haggas is known as one of the world’s premier trainers and this filly definitely shouldn’t get under anyone’s guard ahead of the Coolmore Classic. Forget her last run, she was hampered late and probably would have run third if not for the interference. If Sacred, who finished second, were lining up here she would be single figures. The 1500m on a firm surface should suit and she should enjoy every chance from gate five with Regan Bayliss aboard.
Best Longshot – Flemington R7 #14 Swats That ($51)
While Swats That is not racing in the form that made her one of the top fillies and mares in Victoria, she is still such a good straight horse that 50-1 about her is ludicrous. Remarkably, she has never won at the course and distance but she has been placed three times, twice in Group 1 races at weight-for-age. She has finished fifth in the Newmarket in the last two years and she meets The Astrologist 2kg better and Roch ‘N’ Horse 3.5kg better for last year. At the weights alone, she can’t be ignored.
Jockey/Trainer Combination To Follow – Craig Newitt and Julius Sandhu
In the last 12 months, they have combined 18 times for five wins at an ROI of almost 500 per cent. Not a bad result at all for punters. They combine three times at Flemington on Saturday – with #6 Jayrod Too ($41) in the Grand Handicap Classic Prelude, #12 Moya Lass ($101) in the Kewney Stakes and the big gun #9 Lofty Strike ($8.50) in the Newmarket Handicap. It may pay to keep all three on side.
Head to BossBet to get in on the action. Happy punting folks.
