The James Cummings-trained filly In Secret is favourite to post a second Group 1 success at Flemington Racecourse when she returns to headquarters third-up and fit for Saturday’s Group 1 $1.5 million Newmarket Handicap (1200m).
The James Cummings-trained In Secret is favourite to win the 2023 Newmarket Handicap this weekend at Flemington. Photo: Steve Hart.
The 2023 Newmarket Handicap field features a star-studded final field of 16 autumn sprinters led in betting at Ladbrokes by Godolphin‘s ultra-consistent daughter of I Am Invincible In Secret.
In Secret sits top of the Newmarket Handicap odds at $4.20 when she returns to the track and distance she beat home the boys over in the Group 1 Coolmore Stud Stakes (1200m) during last year’s Melbourne Cup Carnival.
The bonny three-year-old has been good again in her two lead-up runs this prep in Sydney winning the Group 2 Light Fingers Stakes before a close defeat when third in a three-way photo in the Group 1 Surround Stakes (1400m).
Back to Melbourne down the ‘Straight Six’ at her pet distance (4:3-1-0) and In Secret, to be ridden from barrier eight by the equally in-form Ms Jamie Kah, and In Secret looks a big hope to join Sunlight (2019) as the only other Newmarket Handicap winning filly since Alighi (2005).
The danger occupying the second line of Newmarket Handicap betting after being demoted from top spot following a wide barrier 14 draw is the Peter Moody-trained Golden Eagle winning four-year-old I Wish I Win ($4.60).
The talented son of Savabeel has won $5,786,053 over his 14 starts to date and is second-up on Saturday with Luke Nolen continuing associations.
Nolen rode the gun galloper fresh on 58.5kg when I Wish I Win kicked off at Flemington to go down narrowly to the filly Coolangatta in the Group 1 Black Caviar Lightning (1000m).
Back up to a more suitable distance and coming back two kilos in the Newmarket Handicap weights on the weekend the gelding looks a huge hope to return to winning form.
Joe Pride‘s 58kg top-weight Private Eye is also being kept safe in betting at $7 to win first-up from gate two with Brenton Avdulla aboard.
Hay List (58.5kg in 2012) was the last Newmarket Handicap winner to carry more than 57.5kg to victory, but Private Eye is no stranger to big weights.
He was huge in the spring with 60kg defeating last year’s Newmarket Handicap champion and subsequent VRC Sprint Classic winning mare Roch ‘N’ Horse home in the Group 2 Gilgai Stakes at this track and distance.
A second when only a quarter-length off the three-year-old Giga Kick in the $15 million The Everest (1200m) in Sydney followed.
Private Eye was last seen crossing just two lengths back seventh to Alligator Blood, a recent first-up winner in Melbourne’s Futurity Stakes, in the Group 1 VRC Champions Mile.
His first-up record is strong (6:3-0-1) and even with the kilos looks a winning chance.
Rounding out the single-figure fancies in this year’s Newmarket line-up at $9 is the talented Julius Sandhu-trained Lofty Strike in gate 12 with Craig Newitt retaining the ride.
The three-year-old Snitzel colt was fourth here to In Secret in the Coolmore Stud Stakes last November before a seventh only a length away in a blanket finish behind Roch ‘N’ Horse at 60/1 in the VRC Sprint Classic.
Like In Secret he is one of the fit contenders in the Newmarket racing third-up after winning the Group 2 Rubiton Stakes and then finishing second in Sandown’s Group 1 Oakleigh Plate (1100m).
Roch ‘N’ Horse meanwhile looks the value to go back-to-back in the Newmarket at $23 with Michael Moroney‘s Flemington specialist to relish a return to the straight after her 10th fresh in the Oakleigh Plate.
The Newmarket Handicap 2023 is scheduled as Race 7 to jump at 4:20pm (AEDT) on Flemington’s nine-race Flemington card.
