The 2016 Newmarket Handicap weights have been released and Chautauqua has been allocated the top weight of 58 kilograms.
Chautauqua, Japonisme and Terravista are set to do battle again in the 2016 Newmarket Handicap. Photo by: Ultimate Racing Photos
Chautauqua carried 55.5 kilograms when he finished second behind Brazen Beau in the Newmarket Handicap last year, but he has since won the Group 1 TJ Smith Stakes (1200m), Group 1 Manikato Stakes (1200m) and Group 1 Black Caviar Lightning Stakes (1000m).
Only three horses have carried 58 kilograms or more to win the Newmarket Handicap in the last 50 years and Chautauqua will join a select list that includes Gold Stakes in 1959, Black Caviar in 2011 and Hay List in 2012.
Terravista was only narrowly denied by Chautauqua in the Black Caviar Lightning Stakes and he has been allocated the second top weight of 56.5 kilograms.
Trainer Joe Pride is confident that Terravista would have won the Black Caviar Lightning Stakes if jockey Damien Oliver had not juggled his whip in the final stages of the race and he will be go into the 2016 Newmarket Handicap with a run under his belt after contesting the race first-up last preparation.
Delectation upstaged Chautauqua and Terravista to win the Group 1 Darley Classic (1200m) during the 2016 Spring Racing Carnival and he has been allocated 56 kilograms along with Oakleigh Plate winner Flamberge.
Veteran sprinter Tiger Tees has been allocated 54 kilograms, but he will likely only contest the Newmarket Handicap if there is rain in Melbourne in the lead-up to the Group 1 event.
Black Heart Bart is set to be one of the most interesting runners in the 2016 Newmarket Handicap field and he will carry 53.5 kilograms, while Éclair Choice, Dothraki and Charmed Harmony have all been allocated 53 kilograms.
Japonisme was not far away from Chautauqua and Terravista in the Black Caviar Lightning Stakes and he is set to have a big weight pull over his rivals when he carries 52.5 kilograms in the Newmarket Handicap.
Scissor Kick, Churchill Dancer, Gregers, The Quarterback, Supido and Vezalay will carry 52 kilograms if they contest the Newmarket Handicap, while Keen Array, Counterattack, Kinglike, Secret Agenda, Puritan, Bassett and Kentucky Flyer will be on the limit weight of 50 kilograms.
Chautauqua is currently available at 2016 Newmarket Handicap odds of $3.40 with Ladbrokes and he is favourite from Japonisme ($4), Terravista ($4.80), Delectation ($6.50), Supido ($9), Counterattack ($10), Keen Array ($13), Secret Agenda ($15), Black Heart Bart ($17) and Flamberge ($17).
