The 151st running of the $1.5 million Group 1 Newmarket Handicap (1200m) has attracted a star-studded field of 15 set to scorch the Flemington turf on Saturday afternoon.
The Chris Waller-trained Joliestar makes the trip south of Sydney and has been installed as the $4.80 favourite with horse racing bookmakers for the event following a luckless first-up effort in the Group 2 Expressway Stakes (1200m) at Randwick on February 15.
The daughter of Zoustar will be partnered by Damian Lane who will go in search of cover after drawing barrier eight for Saturday’s feature handicap.
The Group 1 Lightning Stakes (1000m) is considered one of the traditional lead-ups, and the Phillip Stokes-trained Stretan Angel fits that mold after finishing second behind Skybird on February 15.
The Harry Angel mare has never missed the frame second-up across four starts and is well respected on the second line of betting at $6.50 with Neds.
There are plenty of terrific betting propositions outside of the favoured pair, with $10.00 available with Picklebet for the likes of Growing Empire and Rey Magnerio.
Meanwhile, the three-year-olds down towards the bottom of the page in the form of Espionage and Gatsbys are sure to gain plenty of interest at the double-figure odds with the pair set to carry 50kg on their backs respectively.
The 2025 Newmarket Handicap is the penultimate race on the Flemington program and is scheduled to get underway at 4:50pm local time.
2025 Newmarket Handicap Field
1. Benedetta (2)
- T: Jason Warren
- J: Ben Melham
- W: 57kg
- Age: 5YO
- Colour: Bay/Brown
- Sex: Mare
- Sire: Hellbent
- Dam: Whatalovelyday
+260
2. Maharba (1)
- T: Grahame Begg
- J: Billy Egan
- W: 56.5kg
- Age: 4YO
- Colour: Bay
- Sex: Gelding
- Sire: Pride of Dubai
- Dam: Blizzardly
+400
3. Arkansaw Kid (14)
- T: Ben, Will & JD Hayes
- J: Craig Newitt
- W: 56kg
- Age: 4YO
- Colour: Brown or Black
- Sex: Gelding
- Sire: Harry Angel (IRE)
- Dam: Florabella
+260
4. Buenos Noches (9)
- T: Ciaron Maher
- J: John Allen
- W: 56kg
- Age: 5YO
- Colour: Bay or Brown
- Sex: Horse
- Sire: Supido
- Dam: Koi
+600
5. Joliestar (8)
- T: Chris Waller
- J: Damian Lane
- W: 56kg
- Age: 4YO
- Colour: Bay
- Sex: Mare
- Sire: Zoustar
- Dam: Jolie Bay
+100
6. Rey Magnerio (4)
- T: Robbie Griffiths
- J: Jye McNeil
- W: 56kg
- Age: 5YO
- Colour: Brown
- Sex: Gelding
- Sire: Magnus
- Dam: Luchardo
+220
7. Growing Empire (5)
- T: Ciaron Maher
- J: Mark Zahra
- W: 55.5kg
- Age: 3YO
- Colour: Bay
- Sex: Colt
- Sire: Zoustar
- Dam: Miles of Krishan
+200
8. Ostraka (13)
- T: Annabel Neasham & Rob Archibald
- J: Jamie Mott
- W: 55.5kg
- Age: 4YO
- Colour: Bay
- Sex: Gelding
- Sire: Pariah
- Dam: Madame Andree
+400
9. Stretan Angel (7)
- T: Phillip Stokes
- J: Lachlan Neindorf
- W: 55.5kg
- Age: 4YO
- Colour: Bay
- Sex: Mare
- Sire: Harry Angel (IRE)
- Dam: Sretan
+160
10. It’sourtime (6)
- T: Danny O’Brien
- J: Craig Williams
- W: 54kg
- Age: 7YO
- Colour: Bay
- Sex: Gelding
- Sire: Time for War
- Dam: Zedoble
+600
11. Sghirripa (10)
- T: Shane & Cassie Oxlade
- J: Luke Currie
- W: 53kg
- Age: 5YO
- Colour: Grey-Black
- Sex: Gelding
- Sire: Lonhro
- Dam: Wonder I Do
+600
12. Headwall (3)
- T: Matthew Smith
- J: Harry Coffey
- W: 52.5kg
- Age: 5YO
- Colour: Bay
- Sex: Gelding
- Sire: Dream Ahead (USA)
- Dam: Positive Quest
+400
13. Suparazi (12)
- T: Ben Brisbourne
- J: Declan Bates
- W: 52kg
- Age: 6YO
- Colour: Chestnut
- Sex: Gelding
- Sire: Super One
- Dam: Arazi Belle
+900
14. Espionage (11)
- T: Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott
- J: Dean Yendall
- W: 50kg
- Age: 3YO
- Colour: Bay
- Sex: Colt
- Sire: Zoustar
- Dam: In Times of War
+260
15. Gatsby’s (15)
- T: Chris Waller
- J: Karis Teetan
- W: 50kg
- Age: 3YO
- Colour: Chestnut
- Sex: Colt
- Sire: Snitzel
- Dam: Miss Charming (USA)
+320
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