Newmarket Handicap
Looking for this season’s Newmarket Handicap betting odds, field and form guide? The experts at Neds have put together everything you need to know before this year’s race.
Run over 1,200 metres down the famous Flemington ‘Straight Six’ in early March, the Newmarket Handicap is a Group 1 sprint showdown run and won since 1874.
The handicap showdown offers $1.5 million in prize money and attracts a class field of sprint stars every Melbourne Autumn Racing Carnival.
The Newmarket Handicap is the only other Australian thoroughbred race along with the iconic Melbourne Cup in which 24 horses are permitted to start in the final field.
There have been five dual winners of the Newmarket Handicap throughout history, most recently Redkirk Warrior (2017, 2018).
Undefeated turf great Black Caviar holds the current Newmarket Handicap record having won the 2011 edition of the event in 1:07.36.
In 2022 Roch ‘N’ Horse won at 100/1 before returning in the spring to frank the Newmarket Handicap form with a Group 1 Champions Sprint (1200m) victory during the Melbourne Cup Carnival.
The 2024 Newmarket Handicap was won by Godolphin-raced Cylinder handing the stable and trainer James Cummings back-to-back wins with three-year-olds following the 2023 victory by In Secret.
In Secret was originally set to be ridden by Jamie Kah but she fell in an earlier event nearly losing her life. Jockey Dean Holland picked up the winning ride, but would tragically pass away in a Victorian fall the following month.
The Dean Holland Trophy was created for the winning Newmarket Handicap rider from 2024 onwards with the inaugural going to Kah who atoned for her horror day the year prior.
Newmarket Handicap 2024 – Quick Information
- Race Day: Saturday, March 9th, 2024
- Track Location: Flemington Racecourse
- Track Surface: Turf
- Track Direction: Left-handed
- Race Distance: 1,200 metres
- Weight Conditions: Handicap
- Qualification: Open
- Type: Thoroughbred
- Grade: Group 1
- Operator: Victoria Racing Club
- Prize Purse: $1,500,000
- Inaugural Race: 1874
- 2024 Newmarket Handicap Winner: Cylinder
newmarket handicap 2024 RESULTS
The official 2024 Newmarket Handicap results will be available below once the race takes place on Saturday March 9, 2024.
- #14 Cylinder
- #1 Imperatriz
- #7 The Astrologist
The James Cummings-trained Exceed And Excel colt Cylinder ($11), emulating his sire who won the race exactly 20 years ago, who got on the back of 100/1 pop and eventual third place-getter The Astrologist before coming fast down the outside over the final furlong to defeat the favourite Imperatriz in a thrilling 2024 Newmarket Handicap result.
Newmarket Handicap Betting 2024
There are many different ways to bet on the Newmarket Handicap, and we have included some of the most popular options below:
| Bet Type | How To Place This Type Of Bet In This Year’s Newmarket Handicap |
|---|---|
| Win Bet | Place your bet on the horse you think will take first place in this year’s Newmarket Handicap. |
| Place Bet | Place your bet on the horse you think will place in the top three finishers at this year’s Newmarket Handicap. Pays less than a win bet, but offers safer odds. |
| Each-Way Bet | If your runner finishes 1st in the Newmarket Handicap, you will collect both the Win and the Place dividend. If your horse finishes 2nd or 3rd you will collect the Place dividend. |
| Quinella Bet | You must select the runners that finish 1st and 2nd in any order, within the Newmarket Handicap, in order to win the Quinella. |
| Exacta Bet | You must select the runners that finish 1st and 2nd in the correct order, within the Newmarket Handicap to win the Exacta. |
| Trifecta Bet | You must select runners to finish 1st, 2nd and 3rd in the correct order, within the Newmarket Handicap to win the Trifecta. |
| First Four | You must select runners that finish 1st, 2nd ,3rd and 4th in the correct order, within the Newmarket Handicap to win the First 4. |
| Quadrella Bet (Quaddie) | You must select the winners of four nominated races to win the Quaddie. This means you would have to select three other races apart from the Newmarket Handicap, in order to be eligible to place a Quaddie. |
How To Bet On The Newmarket Handicap in 2024
- Login at neds.com.au
- Make sure to check out form guide, once it’s released
- Decide what kind of bet you’re going to place (Win, Place, Each-Way, Trifecta + more betting options, please read our section on Newmarket Handicap Betting above).
- Select the horse(s) for the race.
Newmarket Handicap 2025 Odds
Early market betting odds on the 2025 Newmarket Handicap will be displayed below once available. Odds are subject to fluctuation. For current odds on all of our live markets, please visit neds.com.au.
Which Horse Will Win The Newmarket Handicap
The best way to pick which horse will win the Newmarket Handicap in 2024 is to take into account their lead-up autumn racing form, consider the weight the horse will carry and look for those proven down the famous Flemington straight.
Additional factors to consider when picking the Newmarket Handicap winner include:
- Youth Over Experience: In Secret (2023) became the ninth three-year-old since 2004 to beat home the older sprinters in the Newmarket Handicap results and the first since the fellow James Cummings-trained Bivouac (2020). The next year another Godolphin-raced three-year-old was on top with Cylinder (2024).
- Key Lead-Ups: The Group 1 Oakleigh Plate and the Group 1 Black Caviar Lightning – both run over shorter distances – serve as the best Newmarket Handicap lead-up races. Lankan Rupee (2014) was the last horse to do the Oakleigh Plate – Newmarket double, while Redkirk Warrior (2018) for his second Newmarket win backed-up off a Black Caviar Lightning success that year. Cylinder (6th in 2024) was the last Newmarket Handicap winner to come via the Lightning Stakes.
Newmarket Handicap Favourites 2024
Early favourites in 2024 Newmarket Handicap betting include brilliant mare Imperatriz who won five on the trot last prep including four Group 1s, resuming Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes winning mare Magic Time, and Matthew Smith’s Buenos Noches who was runner-up to Imperatriz here in the Group 1 Champions Sprint in the spring.
Between 2007 – 2020 six Newmarket Handicap favourites have been successful, with Hay List ($3.80 in 2012) the last to salute for the punters.
There was a huge upset in the 2022 Newmarket Handicap with Roch ‘N’ Horse winning at 100/1!
Newmarket Handicap 2024 Field
The official 2024 Newmarket Handicap field of final acceptances is announced the Wednesday of race week and will be published in full below.
The Newmarket Handicap 2024 final field has drawn 14 runners with weights and markets led by nine-time Group 1 winning mare Imperatriz.
Scratched:
- #4 Espiona (8) to run in Sydney’s Group 1 Canterbury Stakes (1300m) at Randwick instead.
- #11 Rey Magnerio
Newmarket Handicap 2024 Tips
Favourite: #1 Imperatriz ($2.60 at time of publish) – BET NOW
Best Bet: #1 Imperatriz to salute for the punters (see above) – BET NOW
Best Roughie: #2 Bella Nipotina ($11 at time of publish) – BET NOW
Our insider 2024 Newmarket Handicap tips will be detailed above the week of the race and a full betting preview published on the Neds Blog.
CLICK HERE FOR OUR COMPLETE NEWMARKET HANDICAP 2024 BETTING PREVIEW & TIPS
Newmarket Handicap Race Day 2024
The 2024 Newmarket Handicap takes place at Flemington Racecourse on Saturday March 9, 2024.
Along with the Newmarket Handicap the other key Flemington races on the card include the:
- Group 2 $300,000 VRC Sires’ Produce Stakes (1400m),
- Group 2 $300,000 Kewney Stakes (1600m),
- Group 3 $200,000 Shaftesbury Avenue Handicap (1400m), and the
- Group 3 $200,000 Matron Stakes (1600m).
Newmarket Handicap Barrier Draw 2024
The 2024 Newmarket Handicap barrier draw will be released to the public a few days before the race and published in our above Newmarket Handicap Field section.
Newmarket Handicap Nominations 2024
2024 Newmarket Handicap nominations close at 12 PM on Monday, the 4th of March, 2024 and will be updated in full below once confirmed.
Newmarket Handicap Weights 2024
Handicap conditions apply to this race. Minimum top weight at acceptance is 57 kilograms. The 2024 Newmarket Handicap weights are announced on Monday March 4th, 2024 with weights on the final acceptances to be published in our above Newmarket Handicap Field section.
Zoutori (57kg in 2021) was the last Newmarket Handicap topweight to salute.
2024 Newmarket Handicap Top-Weight:
- #1 Imperatriz (58kg)
Newmarket Handicap Acceptances 2024
Final 2024 Newmarket Handicap acceptances must be declared before 9:30 AM on Wednesday, the 6th of March, 2024 and will be published in our above Newmarket Handicap Field section.
Newmarket Handicap Jockeys 2024
The final riders announcement is at 1 PM on Wednesday, the 6th of March, 2024 with the official 2024 Newmarket Handicap jockeys to be published in our above Newmarket Handicap Field section.
Newmarket Handicap Scratchings 2024
2024 Newmarket Handicap scratchings close at 7:30 AM on Saturday, the 9th of March, 2024.
- #4 Espiona (8)
- #11 Rey Magnerio
Newmarket Handicap Prize Money 2024
The 2024 Newmarket Handicap prize purse is worth $1,500,000 in total, distributed from places first through to eighth.
| Place | Prize Money |
|---|---|
| 1st | $900,000 |
| 2nd | $270,000 |
| 3rd | $135,000 |
| 4th | $67,500 |
| 5th | $37,000 |
| 6th | $30,000 |
| 7th | $30,000 |
| 8th | $30,000 |
Newmarket Handicap Race Number 2024
The 2024 Newmarket Handicap race number is scheduled as Flemington Race 5 at 3:05pm (AEDT) on Saturday the 9th of March, 2024. There are ten races in total that day at Flemington Racecourse.
Newmarket Handicap Form Guide 2024
The final form guide will be available the week of the race. You can check below for a link to our full 2024 Newmarket Handicap Form Guide following final acceptances.
CLICK HERE FOR THE FULL 2024 NEWMARKET HANDICAP FORM GUIDE
Newmarket Handicap Live 2024
You can watch or listen to the 2024 Newmarket Handicap live, across the following mediums.
Pay television: Sky Racing 1 (channel 526 on Foxtel)
Free to air television: Channels 78 (and 68 in regional areas)
Radio: Radio Sport National
Streaming: Racing.com
Mobile: Neds App
Newmarket Handicap Winners
Winners of the Newmarket Handicap going back to the year 2000 are displayed in the table below. You can find a full list of winners here.
| Year | Winner | Trainer/s | Jockey | Weight | Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | Cylinder | James Cummings | Ms Jamie Kah | 51.5 kgs | 1:08.83 |
| 2023 | In Secret | James Cummings | Dean Holland | 51.5 kgs | 1:08.24 |
| 2022 | Roch ‘N’ Horse | Michael Moroney | Patrick Moloney | 52.5 kgs | 1:09.01 |
| 2021 | Zoutori | Mathew Ellerton & Simon Zahra | Luke Currie | 57 kgs | 1:09.61 |
| 2020 | Bivouac | James Cummings | Glen Boss | 54 kgs | 1:09.21 |
| 2019 | Sunlight | Tony McEvoy | Barend Vorster | 50.5 kgs | 1:8.25 |
| 2018 | Redkirk Warrior | David & B Hayes & T Dabernig | Regan Bayliss | 57.5 kgs | 1:08.33 |
| 2017 | Redkirk Warrior | David & B Hayes & T Dabernig | Regan Bayliss | 52.5 kgs | 1:09.05 |
| 2016 | The Quarterback | Robbie Griffiths | Craig Newitt | 52 kgs | 1:09.23 |
| 2015 | Brazen Beau | Chris Waller | Joao Moreira | 52 kgs | 1:09.24 |
| 2014 | Lankan Rupee | Mick Price | Chad Schofield | 56.5 kgs | 1:09.26 |
| 2013 | Shamexpress | Danny O’Brien | Craig Newitt | 51.5 kgs | 1:08.16 |
| 2012 | Hay List | John McNair | Glyn Schofield | 58.5 kgs | 1:08.72 |
| 2011 | Black Caviar | Peter Moody | Luke Nolen | 58 kgs | 1:07.36 |
| 2010 | Wanted | Peter Moody | Luke Nolen | 51.5 kgs | 1:10.11 |
| 2009 | Scenic Blast | Daniel Morton | Steven Arnold | 57 kgs | 1:08.75 |
| 2008 | Weekend Hussler | Ross McDonald | Brad Rawiller | 56 kgs | 1:08.97 |
| 2007 | Miss Andretti | Lee Freedman | Craig Newitt | 56 kgs | 1:07.74 |
| 2006 | Takeover Target | Joe Janiak | Jay Ford | 57 kgs | 1:08.03 |
| 2005 | Alinghi | Lee Freedman | Damien Oliver | 53.5 kgs | 1:08.10 |
| 2004 | Exceed And Excel | Tim Martin | Corey Brown | 55 kgs | 1:08.72 |
| 2003 | Belle Du Jour | Clarry Conners | Danny Nikolic | 52.5 kgs | 1:08.64 |
| 2002 | Rubitano | Brian Mayfield-Smith | Stephen Baster | 51 kgs | 1:09.03 |
| 2001 | Toledo | Russell Cameron | Damien Oliver | 54.5 kgs | 1:08.67 |
| 2000 | Miss Pennymoney | Jim Conlan | Danny Beasley | 53.5 kgs | 1:07.68 |