This years edition of the Newmarket Handicap is one of the strongest we have seen with the likes of Exceedance, Bivouac, Gytrash, Loving Gaby and The Inevitable battling it out over 1200m up the Flemington straight.
Distance:
- 1200m
Track Conditions:
- Heavy 8
- Rail: 8m Entire
Track Bias
There will be an advantage to be towards the outside rail in the straight races and a slight bias to those off the fence and coming wide in the straight around the bend.
Early Speed
- Genuine
Predicting Despatch [6] , Bivouac [7], Libertini [12] & Banquo [3] to push up on the speed with Gytrash [2], Loving Gaby [4] & Mystyko[1] settling in behind.
Top Pick
Keen to take the $5.00+ for the Team Hawkes trained colt 6. Exceedance first up, resumed with a dominant win in the San Domenico last preparation over 1100m on a heavy track so will appreciate the sting out of the ground, won over 1200m up the Flemington straight in the Coolmore last preparation and will find the best part of the track jumping from barrier 11.
Danger
Godolphin trained 5. Bivouac looks a big danger to Exceedance, has the advantage of a run under its belt after contesting the Oakleigh Plate at Caulfiled where the colt got too far back after being slow out and then having to come wide in the worst part of the track, will take a heap of improvement off that run and getting to 1200m is ideal, if able to jump well and sit handy to the speed he will be hard to run down.
Lay
Laying the Richards trained 1. Gytrash around the $8 mark, won well first up over the 1000m in the Lightning finishing strongly over the top of them, slight query at the 1200m against a quality group of sprinters and combine that with drawing the worst part of the track I am happy to take on the 4YO gelding.
Betting Strategy
- Back: Exceedance (1 Unit Win Bet)
- Back: Bivouac (1 Unit Win Bet)
- Lay: Gytrash ($8.00-$10.00)
