2016 Newmarket Handicap Nominations: Six for Waller

Chris Waller has entered six sprinters for the Newmarket Handicap 2016 as he chases back-to-back wins in Flemington’s Super Saturday feature on March 12 this Melbourne Autumn Racing Carnival.

Japonisme (pictured) is out to repeat the feat of the fellow Chris Waller-trained Brazen Beau winning the Coolmore Stud Stakes – Newmarket Handicap double as a three-year-old. Photo: Steve Hart.

Twelve months ago Waller scored his maiden win in the sprint classic when three-year-old Brazen Beau (2015) continued the gun record of youngster’s in the race saluting with just 52kg on his back.

On Tuesday Racing Victoria took nominations for three upcoming elite level showdowns including the $1.25 million Group 1 Lexus Newmarket Handicap (1200m) that attracted 70 early entries, up 10 on last year.

Of those, half a dozen are prepared by last year’s winning trainer Waller including his Coolmore Stud Stakes winning Choisir three-year-old Japonisme.

Brazen Beau won the Coolmore Stud Stakes the spring before his Newmarket Handicap success that followed a first-up second to Lankan Rupee in the Group 1 Black Caviar Lightning Stakes (1000m) down the Flemington straight.

Japonisme is out in 2016 to emulate his star stablemate then having posted his fifth career win at start number 10 in last October’s Coolmore.

Third in the same Victoria Derby Day three-years-old sprint was the fellow Waller-trained Counterattack the Redoute’s Choice colt another headline Newmarket Handicap nominee.

Other notable Newmarket Handicap bound hopefuls for Waller include five-time Group 1 winning six-year-old Boban, Group 1 Darley Classic (1200m) winning Shamardal four-year-old Delectation, last year’s Doncaster Mile champ Kermadec and his Caulfield Guineas winning Hinchinbrook colt Press Statement.

A total of 26 three-year-olds feature in the Newmarket Handicap nominations this autumn looking to become the seventh of that age group since 2004 to win.

Along with those from Waller’s contingent other headline three-year-old Newmarket hopes this season include the John O’Shea-trained Golden Rose winner Exosphere who caught the eye with an impressive barrier trial on Monday, stablemate Holler who won the Group 2 Australia Stakes (1200m) first-up this month and Coolmore Stud Stakes runner-up Keen Array prepared by David Hayes & Tom Dabernig.

Possibly the headline Newmarket Handicap nominee of 2016 however is dual Group 1 winner superstar Chautauqua for Michael, Wayne & John Hawkes who was the equal highest-rated Australian sprinter in 2015 along with Lankan Rupee.

The five-year-old son of Encosta De Lago won the Group 1 Manikato Stakes (1200m) at Moonee Valley two back before his brave second when just nosed out of the Darley Classic win by Delectation as the beaten odds-on favourite.

He was runner-up to Brazen Beau in last year’s Newmarket Handicap quinella and is out to improve by one this year ahead of a likely title defence in the Group 1 TJ Smith Stakes (1200m) in Sydney in April.

Another super-consistent sprinter in the mix is Ball Of Muscle for Joe Pride, the Dubawi five-year-old runner-up to Buffering in the Group 1 Moir Stakes (1000m) last October.

Also in the mix for Pride is Captain Rio six-year-old Terravista last seen running third in the Darley Classic.

Terravista was also third in the Newmarket Handicap and TJ Smith Stakes last autumn.

See below for the full Newmarket Handicap 2016 nominations, futures betting for which should be open shortly at our preferred online bookmaker Ladbrokes.com.au.

2016 Newmarket Handicap Nominations

Flemington Racecourse – 12/03/2016