Following her arrogant win in the Group 1 Lightning Stakes last Saturday, Australia’s queen of the turf Black Caviar has shortened into the odds-on favourite to win the $1 million Group 1 Newmarket Handicap (1200m) at Flemington’s Super Saturday of Racing, March 12.
The freakishly talented Black Caviar easily demolished her rivals in the Lightning Stakes over 1000m at Flemington last Saturday, becoming a dual Group 1 winner and maintaining her unbeaten record having now won all nine of her career starts to date.
Coasting to a 3 ¼ length victory over Hay List, a winning margin that could easily have been doubled should jockey Luke Nolen have let the glamour mare hit first gear, Black Caviar firmed in from $2.30 in the futures Newmarket Handicap odds to the short-priced favourite at $1.40 through Luxbet.
Lightning Stakes runner-up Hay List, also on track to a run in the Newmarket this year, drifted out from $8 to $12 in the betting markets.
Despite his best efforts on the weekend, consistent sprinter Hay List did little to suggest he could come close to running down Black Caviar in the Newmarket but is still the second favourite.
Other horses that have drifted in the Newmarket odds include third favourite Star Witness ($9 out to $12), Testa Rossa mare Ortensia ($17 out to $26) and last year’s Golden Slipper Crystal Lily ($17 out to $41) who ran fifth behind Black Caviar in the Lightning Stakes last start.
There have been a number of noticeable market firmers in the 2011 Newmarket Handicap betting along with the favourite including:
- Catapulted ($31 into $19 Luxbet) – Mark Kavanagh’s five-year-old won the Group 3 Rubiton Stakes (1100m) first-up for the season at Caulfield on February 12
- Undeniably ($21) – Another from Kavanagh’s stable, was a close second behind Whitefriars in the Group 2 Australia Stakes (1200m) on January 28 coming into Newmarket contention
- Whitefriars ($31 into $21) – Sydney galloper won the Australia Stakes second-up this season, has had just one Flemington run when winning the Group 2 Salinger Stakes (1200m) on Derby Day last spring
If accepted for the Newmarket Handicap field, Black Caviar will attempt to emulate the feats of stars including Surround, Planet Ruler, Proud Miss and Kindergarten who managed to win 10 consecutive races during their careers.
There are currently 44 horses still in Newmarket Handicap contention after first declarations were taken last week.
The Newmarket Handicap 2011 final field will be released on Wednesday March 9, while the weights for the Flemington feature will be out early next month.
Check out the full Newmarket Handicap All In Odds at Luxbet now.
2011 Lexus Newmarket Handicap Odds
| Horse | Odds* |
|---|---|
| Black Caviar | 1.40 |
| Hay List | 12.00 |
| Star Witness | 13.00 |
| Catapulted | 19.00 |
| Undeniably | 21.00 |
| Whitefriars | 21.00 |
| Ortensia | 26.00 |
| First Command | 31.00 |
| Reward For Effort | 31.00 |
| We’re Gonna Rock | 31.00 |
| Beaded | 41.00 |
| Crystal Lily | 41.00 |
| Decision Time | 41.00 |
| Eagle Falls | 41.00 |
| Grand Duels | 41.00 |
| Hinchinbrook | 41.00 |
| Set For Fame | 41.00 |
| Stirling Grove | 41.00 |
| Ahdashim | 51.00 |
| Avenue | 51.00 |
| Shellscrape | 51.00 |
| Sister Madly | 51.00 |
| Varenna Miss | 51.00 |
| Chasm | 61.00 |
| Doubtful Jack | 61.00 |
| King Pulse | 61.00 |
| Sharpnel | 61.00 |
| Smokin Joey | 61.00 |
| Master Harry | 81.00 |
| Quick Peek | 81.00 |
| Response | 81.00 |
| Bigelow | 101.00 |
| Captain Coltish | 101.00 |
| Jerezana | 101.00 |
| Keano | 101.00 |
| Marquardt | 101.00 |
| Panipique | 101.00 |
| Paprika | 151.00 |
| Potions | 151.00 |
| Voile Rouge | 201.00 |
| Snapparazi | 301.00 |
| So Anyway | 301.00 |
*Odds are Fixed Win from Luxbet and subject to change
