The Newmarket Handicap tends to be one of the Autumn Carnival’s more exciting contests and that certainly looks like being the case again at HQ on Saturday.
Thirteen sprinters have been confirmed for a start, rich with previous Group 1 winners and some of the country’s most exciting three-year-olds and when the final field went up on Wednesday, we were faced with just under $5 the field.
NEWMARKET HANDICAP – WINNER
No. 5 Bivouac – Bet Now: $4.80
I think that Bivouac will enjoy big improvement from his first-up hit-out in the Oakleigh Plate and will be tough to beat in the Newmarket Handicap. The Exceed And Excel colt was a star of the Spring Carnival, winning the Group 1 Golden Rose and finishing second in the Coolmore at this track and trip most notably. Bossy jumps in the saddle, the horse is weighted well as a three-year-old (53kgs) and he should be able to get a nice bit of cover the from the central draw. I really cannot find a reason why he won’t be in the finish.
NEWMARKET HANDICAP – 2ND
No. 11 Loving Gabby – Bet Now: $5.00
Loving Gabby was strong through the line when she filled the minors in the Group 1 Lightning a few weeks ago and is primed to run a big race in the Nemarket. The I Am Invincible filly is proven in open Group 1 company having taken out the Manikato Stakes in spring, and she is also proven down the straight, having placed twice at her last two efforts. In a nutshell, she doesn’t know how to run a bad, race, is drawn ideally, weighted outstandingly and will have the services of Craig Williams once again.
NEWMARKET HANDICAP – 3RD
No. 4 The Inevitable – Bet Now: $9.00
The Inevitable is an extremely interesting runner in the 2020 Newmarket Handicap field and he could prove big overs at his current price ($9 at publish). The talented Tasmanian absolutely flies fresh – his record at this point of his prep currently stands at 3:2-0-1 and he has trialled well in the lead-up to this contest. Brett Prebble takes the ride and if the outside rail is the place of be on Saturday, this horse will take a power of beating.
NEWMARKET HANDICAP – 4TH
No. 6 Exceedance – Bet Now: $4.80
Exceedance is yet to taste anything but success first-up and is up to winning the 2020 Newmarket Handicap. The Team Hawkes-trained colt hasn’t finished outside of the places in six career starts and traded blows with Bivouac in spring, running third in the Golden Rose but turning the tables in the Coolmore, most notably. This is his hardest fresh assignment to date and while I have no doubt he’s capable of winning, I think he could also just find a couple of these opponents a little too sharp.
Suggested Bets
- 2 Units straight out #5 Bivouac
- Boxed Trifecta of the selections below
