This weekend at Flemington, Mark Walker‘s champion mare Imperatriz will attempt to etch her name further into racing history by winning the 2024 Newmarket Handicap.
Imperatriz is out to become a 10-time Group 1 winning mare in the Newmarket Handicap 2024 this weekend. Photo: Ultimate Racing Photos.
The nine-time Group 1 winner, a daughter of I Am Invincible, will carry the top weight of 58kg in the prestigious $1.5 million sprint race over 1200m.
Imperatriz kicked off her campaign in impressive fashion, narrowly defeating Private Eye in the Group 1 Black Caviar Lightning (1000m) at the track.
Now, she returns to her preferred distance of 1200m, boasting a formidable record of 7 wins, 1 second-place finish, and 1 third-place finish from 9 starts at this distance.
Additionally, her second-up record is equally impressive, with 5 wins and 1 third-place finish from 6 attempts.
Unsurprisingly, Imperatriz sits comfortably atop the Newmarket Handicap odds at $2.60 through Ladbrokes, but faces a unique challenge.
She aims to become the first horse since Hay List (58.5kg in 2012) to win the race carrying more than 57.5kg.
The last mare to carry the 58kg to victory was the legendary Black Caviar in 2011, highlighting the elite company Imperatriz is striving to join.
Despite the weight disadvantage, Imperatriz draws favourably in barrier three with jockey Opie Bosson onboard, making her a strong contender.
Her main challenger is expected to be Buenos Noches ($4.60).
The field has been reduced to thirteen runners following the early scratching of Espiona, leaving only one other horse besides Imperatriz and Buenos Noches in single-figure odds – the resuming Magic Time ($7).
Chris Waller‘s Espiona, originally slated to run in the Newmarket, will instead compete in the smaller field of the Group 1 Canterbury Stakes (1300m) at Randwick on the same day.
Other hopefuls in the Newmarket Handicap include the well-performed Bella Nipotina ($10) and the three-year-old contender Cylinder ($16).
The 2024 Newmarket Handicap will be run as Race 5 on Saturday’s eight-race card at Flemington, with the starting time set for 3:05 pm (AEDT).
2024 Newmarket Handicap Field
| No | Last 10 | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Barrier | Weight | Probable Weight | Penalty | Hcp Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 121x1111x1 | IMPERATRIZ | Mark Walker | Opie Bosson | 3 | 58kg | 119 | ||
| 2 | 36x33315x4 | BELLA NIPOTINA | Ciaron Maher | Craig Williams | 4 | 55.5kg | 114 | ||
| 3 | x57x1382x4 | BUENOS NOCHES | Matthew Smith | Blake Shinn | 9 | 55.5kg | 110 | ||
| 4 | 17x21714x3 | ESPIONA | Chris Waller | Jye McNeil | 8 | 54.5kg | 112 | ||
| 5 | 0150x7527x | RUTHLESS DAME (NZ) | Ciaron Maher | Damian Lane | 2 | 53.5kg | 110 | ||
| 6 | 1x13x5131x | MAGIC TIME | Grahame Begg | Michael Dee | 12 | 53kg | 109 | ||
| 7 | 062725×957 | THE ASTROLOGIST | Leon & Troy Corstens | Declan Bates | 14 | 52.5kg | 104 | ||
| 8 | 113x1134x4 | BENEDETTA | Jason Warren | Harry Coffey | 11 | 52kg | 102 | ||
| 9 | 423134043x | IT’SOURTIME | Danny O’Brien | Ms Linda Meech | 1 | 52kg | 98 | ||
| 10 | 1×11 | MASTER FAY | Chad Ormsby | Dean Yendall | 10 | 52kg | 90 | ||
| 11 | 1134111219 | REY MAGNERIO | Robbie Griffiths & Mathew de Kock | Daniel Moor | 7 | 52kg | 88 | ||
| 12 | 145×113117 | SGHIRRIPA | Shane & Cassie Oxlade | Craig Newitt | 6 | 52kg | 102 | ||
| 13 | 22x21615x0 | SKEW WIFF (NZ) | Mark Walker | Ms Celine Gaudray (a) | 5 | 52kg | 107 | ||
| 14 | 27x11350x6 | CYLINDER | James Cummings | Ms Jamie Kah | 13 | 51.5kg | 107 |
Table Credit: Racing Australia.
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