Newmarket Handicap Tips - Rey Magnerio to relish the 1200m at Flemington and secure first Group 1 win

Adam Cusworth

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Last updated: 05 Mar 2025

Adam Cusworth 05 Mar 2025

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Rey Magnerio and Stretan Angel among top contenders.
Five runners come from Oakleigh Plate, including Rey Magnerio.
Joliestar from Sydney is the favorite for the race.

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MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - MARCH 09: Jamie Kah riding Cylinder defeats Imperatriz in Race 5, the Yulong Newmarket Handicap, during Melbourne Racing at Flemington Racecourse on March 09, 2024 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Vince Caligiuri/Getty Images)

The Newmarket Handicap will be held on Saturday March 8 and sees some big names in action in the first Group 1 of the calendar year.

Here is our preview of the action

2025 Newmarket Handicap Preview

Five runners come out of the Oakleigh Plate (1100m), headed by Rey Magnerio, who was 3rd. The others are Headwall (4th), Espionage (6th), Sghirripa (7th) and Ostraka (9th). Rey Magnerio went 15.1 lengths faster than standard benchmark in the Caulfield Group 1, which is the best last start figure of any runner in this race.

Rey Magnerio went for home a fraction early and was swamped late. He performs well over the Flemington 1200m and should be thereabouts again. Headwall probably should have placed at Caulfield as he was held up, while Espionage pulled up with a slight issue.

Three runners come out of the first of the major autumn sprints in Melbourne, the Lightning Stakes (1000m) and they are Stretan Angel (2nd), Benedetta (3rd) and Growing Empire (7th).

I am not completely sold by the form out of that race this year but Benedetta is one we can respect, given she ran 4th in this race last year, going 17.5 lengths faster than standard benchmark. She has to do it with the top weight of 57kg. Stretan Angel meets that horse on better terms

Joliestar is favourite for the Newmarket and comes down from Sydney after resuming with a 3rd behind Magic Time in the Expressway Stakes (1200m), which was strangely run. She was caught back and wide no cover on a very slow tempo. Expect the Waller mare to improve.

2025 Newmarket Handicap Best Bet

Rey Magnerio ticks plenty of boxes and is a major player in his quest to claim Group 1 success for the first time. The Robbie Griffiths-trained galloper has finished in the top three in his last seven starts, winning two. One of those was when first up in early February, while the other came at the track and trip during the Melbourne Cup carnival. He performs well at Flemington and can tuck in just behind the leading pair

2025 Newmarket Handicap Value Bet

Stretan Angel is another that performs well at Flemington and was a one length 4th in the Champions Sprint (1200m) last spring behind Sunshine In Paris. Despite winning just two of 14, she has proven that she can mix it at the highest level with her runner-up in the recent Lightning Stakes and last years Robert Sangster Stakes (1200m) behind Benedetta. She meets that horse 1.5kg better at the weights from the Lightning and has options from barrier 7.

Verdict

Newmarket Handicap

Newmarket Handicap Tips

Rey Magnerio

Best Bet

@8/1 - 1 Unit

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