Newmarket Handicap 2023

In a hurry? We’ve listed all the quick facts that you need to know about the Newmarket Handicap:

The Newmarket Handicap is a Group 1 race which takes place each year in March. The race in 2023 will be held on Saturday 11th of March at Flemington Racecourse. Looking back to the race in 2022, it was won by Roch ‘N’ Horse.

The Newmarket Handicap has a history that dates back to 1874 when the first winner was Maid Of Avenue. A unique Group 1 sprint ran down the famous Flemington Straight Six (1200m).

Arguably Australia’s most prestigious sprint race that dominates the Autumn Carnival. Some of Australia’s hall of fame sprinters have been successful in this race including Wakeful (1901), Ajax (1938), Bernborough (1946) and in recent times the unbeaten Black Caviar (2011).

During the later part of the last century Bart Cummings made this race his own, winning this race on eight occasions and he holds the training record. He trained his first winner in Crown (1972) then his last victory in this race was Shaftesbury Avenue (1991).

Redkirk Warrior won this race in consecutive years (2017-2018) but there there has only been four others horses in the races history that have won multiple Newmarket’s those being Aspen (1880-1881), Gothic (1927-1928), Correct (1960-1961) and Razor Sharp (1982-1983).

The Newmarket Handicap is the culmination of the Victorian Sprint Series with the Lightning Stakes and Oakleigh Plate the first two races of the series.

The Newmarket Handicap is an Australian Group 1 held at Flemington Racecourse, it is one of the first major races to start the Autumn Racing Carnival and the $1.5 million prizemoney attached to it means we get to see some of the best Australian and international horses battle it out. Our expert racing tipsters will put together their list of Newmarket Handicap tips soon, so look out for this in the leadup to the big race.

Given the nominations are yet to be accepted for the 2023 Newmarket Handicap, it is tricky to provide any information in relation to our tips at this time. However, as the Autumn Racing Carnival starts to kick into gear, we will get a better idea of the horses that are targeting this Group 1.

Once we know this, it will become a lot easier to provide you with updates. If you are after Newmarket Handicap horse tips, then you have come to the right place! We will keep you abreast with the horses that are likely to be running in this Group 1, so you can place your bets with confidence.

As we get more of an idea of the horses that are likely to be targeting the Newmarket Handicap, then we can provide you with updates. When looking for Newmarket Handicap tips, we have provided some important factors to success in the betting section, which is below.

We will list The Sharks’ Newmarket Handicap best tips for the race this year closer to race day. Make sure you check back on this page for updates!

Newmarket Handicap Tips From Experts

Our tips are not out for the Newmarket Handicap in 2023 as it is too far out from the event. But the good news is that when the final field for the Newmarket Handicap is announced, we will provide guidance on each and every runner in the 2023 Newmarket Handicap.

You will find all this information below, when it becomes available, please check back soon!

There are a lot of important factors to consider before betting on the Newmarket Handicap. Make sure you have a read on below before you place your bets:

Is Previous Newmarket Handicap Form a Good Indicator of Future Success?

In the history of this unique sprint race down the Flemington straight there has only been five multiple winners of the Newmarket Handicap. Being a handicap event it is more than likely that a win or competitive run the previous year suggests the handicapper will catch up with you the following year and that makes winning this race much harder.

History tells us that if a horse has been competitive down the straight at Flemington and has a liking for the straight track they will always run well.

Should I Bet On The Favourite in the Newmarket Handicap?

Since 1983 there have been 11 favourites who have won the Newmarket Handicap. Usually being a handicap will make this a very even affair. The last favourite to win was Redkirk Warrior (2018) when he won his second Newmarket but he was still each-way odds of $7. Roch ‘N’ Horse won the 2022 edition of the Newmarket Handicap at long odds of $61.

Formlines from Lead Up Races

In the last 100 years of the Newmarket Handicap only Redkirk Warrior (2017) and Roch ‘N’ Horse (2022) have won first-up from a spell so ignore runners fresh.

Being the final leg of the sprint series the two previous legs are the best lead up races being the Lightning Stakes and Oakleigh Plate.

An interesting fact is that only three horses have won since 1985 after having their last start in Sydney, All Our Mob (1995), Belle Du Jour (2003) and Exceed And Excel (2004).

Age

The three-year-old’s have a solid record in the Newmarket Handicap having won the race on 47 occasions. If you can find a good three-year-old in at a lightweight, that is usually a good choice.

Weight

Weight can be a great leveller and some always sneak under the handicappers glare, and that can be an important factor in the Newmarket. Look for those that are racing well without winning and look well weighted.

Gender

The males have been dominant in recent times. The only mares to win since 2007 have been Black Caviar (2008), Sunlight (2019) and Roch ‘N’ Horse (2022).

Newmarket Handicap Best Bets

Our Newmarket Handicap best bets for 2023 are not out just yet, make sure you keep an eye out on this page as we will provide more details about our best bets when the final field is announced.

You will find our best bets below once available. Stay tuned!

Before the official Newmarket Handicap field is released – many Aussie bookmakers will open early markets, or all-in markets, for all your Newmarket Handicap betting needs. This is probably the ideal time to bet on your chosen horse. This is because you might be able to bet on great runners for the 2023 Newmarket Handicap at boosted odds.

Once the bookmakers release the 2023 Newmarket Handicap odds, they will tend to fluctuate day-by-day in the lead up to race day, especially when we get a clearer picture of the type of horses that will be targeting the race, as well as their recent form in previous races and/ or trials.

If you do end up choosing to punt on these early markets, it means you could find the favourite at a price of $10 or more. So, if the horse you picked goes on to win, you will get more money from your choice! However, there is increased risk if you choose this option and you should be well aware.

Depending on when you place your 2023 Newmarket Handicap futures bet, your horse may not even run (this could be due to a number of different reasons), but you won’t get your money back, occurring when the market is ‘All-In’ or closer to the starting date. If you are betting on your horse when it says ‘Before Noms’, then you can rest easy knowing you’ll get your cash back if your horse doesn’t end up running.

The odds for the Newmarket Handicap are yet to be released, but you will find all the details below, once available!

The 2022 Newmarket Handicap field saw 17 runners round around the Flemington Racecourse. Home Affairs started as the $3.70 favourite for the race, and it’s easy to see why as he had just won the Group 1 Black Caviar Lightning 3 weeks prior.

Other than Home Affairs, there was only one runner that started under double digit odds, and that was Lost and Running ($3.90), which tells us the punters thought this was going to be a two horse race. Artorius was on the third line of betting at $11.

Prior to this race, Lost and Running had won the Group 3 Southern Cross Stakes at Randwick, which would explain why he was only the narrow second favourite, but he is yet to win at Group 1 or even Group 2 level.

Then we have Artorius, who had a fairly decent Spring in 2021, with a handful of 3rd and 4th placings at Group 1 level. But more recently only managed to finish 6th in the Group 2 Rubiton Stakes.

With a fairly open field, it may not come as a big surprise that it was in fact a long odds winner for the Newmarket Handicap. Roch ‘N’ Horse, who jumped at odds of $61, was able to cross the line first. Coming from across the ditch, punters weren’t too sure what to make of her previous efforts, and this probably why she was able to slip under the radar.

Well wasn’t this a result that none of us saw coming! In first place was Roch ‘N’ Horse ($61), in second was The Astrologist ($61) and closing out the final placings was September Run ($26). If you did manage to back all three of these runners for the trifecta, it was worth a whopping $44,694.90!

It seems as though the Flemington straight caught a lot of runners out, as the horses that were near the front of the pack at the 800m mark were the ones that were able to finish near the front. With Roch ‘N’ Horse 4th at the 800m mark, The Astrologist was 2nd and September Run was 3rd.

The favourite, Home Affairs, finished all the way down in 9th place. While the only other runner under double digit odds, Lost and Running finished in 14th, 7.45L off the pace. It was truly a race to forget for all those punters who back the favourite!

You’ve read the words, now watch the video! Have a squiz below at the 2022 Newmarket Handicap race:

Newmarket Handicap Winners

The results for the upcoming Newmarket Handicap are not yet available, but in the meantime, you can have a look below at all the recent past winners: