The 2019 Newmarket Handicap might just be the best race of the Autumn Racing Carnival.
22 of the best sprinters in Australia will do battle down the famous Flemington straight and the amount of quality horseflesh in this field is simply unbelievable.
We have analysed every horse in this field and our complete 2019 Newmarket Handicap tips can be found below.
Redkirk Warrior
It really does show the depth of this race that a horse with the quality of Redkirk Warrior is currently priced at the juicy odds of $26. He has won the past two editions of the Newmarket Handicap and he hasn’t been disgraced in any of his race starts this campaign. His record down the Flemington straight is outstanding and there is no way that he should be $26.
Santa Ana Lane
There is a case to be made that Santa Ana Lane is the most underrated horse in the country. He won The Goodwood and the Stradbroke Handicap last year before he stamped himself as arguably the best sprinter in the country with his win in the VRC Sprint Classic. A repeat of that effort would have him right in this contest. His first-up record isn’t great and he will benefit from this run, but I can’t let him go around at $11 without me on.
Brave Smash
Brave Smash drops back in trip after credible efforts in the C.F. Orr Stakes and the Futurity Stakes. He is a consistent horse that generally rates at a similar level and I don’t think that he has the upside to win a Group 1 event of this quality.
Osborne Bulls
Osborne Bulls was nothing short of outstanding in the Black Caviar Lightning Stakes and he deserves to be on top of our Newmarket Handicap betting market. He ran some simply outstanding closing sectionals in the Black Caviar Lightning Stakes and there is no doubt that the step-up to 1200 metres is ideal for him. His racing style means that he does always need a little bit of luck in running, but he is a proven winner and he will be storming home late.
Voodoo Lad
Voodoo Lad was no match for Nature Strip in the Rubiton Stakes, but he is definitely capable of a better performance than that. His record at 1200 metres is very good and he has gone close in the Newmarket Handicap before. He will run better than his current odds suggest.
In Her Time
In Her Time returned to the races with another Group 1 win in the Black Caviar Lightning Stakes and there is no reason that she can’t replicate that effort in the Newmarket Handicap. She isn’t as good second-up as she is first-up, but her best form would have her right in this contest.
Shoals
Shoals has been scratched from the Newmarket Handicap field and will instead run in Sydney.
Dothraki
Dothraki is an old warrior that simply never runs a bad race, but the problem is that there is always plenty of starts between wins. Racing Twitter might explode if he wins a race of this quality.
Booker
Booker was finally able to claim a well-deserved Group 1 win in the Ladbrokes Oakleigh Plate last start. There is no doubt that this is a tougher assignment and her second-up record isn’t great, while I think that she is better suited over 1100 metres.
Whispering Brook
Whispering Brook has been freshened-up since she failed to fire in the Ladbrokes C.F. Orr Stakes. Her form before that was excellent and she is a proven winner, but I’m not sure that she is up to this elite Group 1 quality.
Bons Away
Bons Away beat a strong field to win the W.J. Adams Stakes first-up and he wasn’t beaten far in the Ladbrokes Oakleigh Plate. In saying that, his record at Flemington isn’t great and I’m not sure that he is up to a race of this quality.
Champagne Cuddles
Champagne Cuddles returns to Melbourne after a fairly flat effort in the Millie Fox Stakes. She got a bit lost in her only previous start down the Flemington straight in the Kensington Stakes and I don’t think that she going well enough to win this contest.
Divine Quality
Divine Quality was outclassed in the Black Caviar Lightning Stakes and I’m not sure that she will fare any better in this contest.
Eduardo
Eduardo could hardly have been more gallant in the Ladbrokes Oakleigh Plate and he was unlucky not to claim a maiden win at Group 1 level. He does get into this contest very well at the weights and his record is outstanding, but he does look to have found his right price at around the $11 mark.
Glenall
Glenall was soundly beaten at big odds in the Black Caviar Lightning Stakes and he is the extreme outsider in this race for a reason.
I’ll Have A Bit
I’ll Have A Bit was never able to get into the contest in the Ladbrokes Oakleigh Plate and I don’t think that she is up to this level.
Missrock
Missrock was not disgraced in the Black Caviar Lightning Stakes and she actually ran some of the fastest closing sectionals in that contest. I think that she is better suited over 1000 metres and I’m not sure that she will be able to improve on that effort.
Usain Bowler
Usain Bowler is another that wasn’t able to get into the race in the Oakleigh Plate and he looks outclassed at this level.
Encryption
Encryption is an underrated horse and he showed his quality with a fast-finishing effort to finish second in the Oakleigh Plate. I’m still not convinced that is the right form line, but he is a horse that does have upside.
Graff
Graff is the three-year-old with the best chance in the Newmarket Handicap. Outside of Osborne Bulls, he ran the best closing sectionals in the Black Caviar Lightning Stakes and he meets all his rivals much better at the weights. That experience down the Flemington straight will have done him good and the fact that William Pike is in the saddle is no negative.
Zousain
Zousain is starting to develop a reputation as a non-winner and he was beaten as a short-priced favourite in the Zedative Stakes last start. It is tough to back him in a Newmarket Handicap of this quality off that effort.
Sunlight
Sunlight ran her usual honest race in the Black Caviar Lightning Stakes and she should take good improvement from that effort. She is a filly that generally does improve the further that she gets into her campaign and is unbeaten second-up. She is another that can’t be ruled out in what is simply an outstanding betting race.
Lean Mean Machine
Lean Mean Machine was disappointing in the Black Caviar Lightning Stakes and it would be tough to back him in this race off that effort, but he is a horse that is capable of a high-rating performance on his day.