The Newmarket Handicap 2021 nominations attracted 56 sprinters for the ‘Super Saturday’ showdown including the Godolphin-raced Bivouac who is out to become the second dual champion in five years.

Reigning champion Bivouac is one of the headline 2021 Newmarket Handicap nominations this autumn. Photo: Ultimate Racing Photos.

On Monday Racing Victoria took nominations for three of the upcoming Melbourne Autumn Racing Carnival features including those for the Group 1 $1.25 million Seppelt Wines Newmarket Handicap (1200m).

Run alongside the Group 1 $1.5 million Australian Cup (2000m) at HQ on Saturday the 6^th of March, this season’s Newmarket Handicap is shaping up as another thriller down the iconic ‘Straight Six’.

Among the standout early entries for the classic is last years winner, the James Cummings-trained Bivouac, the Exceed And Excel entire boasting a terrific Flemington record (3:2-1-0).

The now four-year-old took out last year’s Newmarket Handicap second-up by over two lengths and enjoyed another win at the track and distance during the Melbourne Cup Carnival with a runaway three length effort over Nature Strip in the Group 1 VRC Classic (1200m).

The dominant straight track performer is looking to emulate Redkirk Warrior (2017-18) as the last back-to-back Newmarket Handicap champ and is at a current all-in quote of $8 through Ladbrokes.com.au to do so.

Sitting top of the post-nomination Newmarket Handicap betting markets at $6 is the Chris Waller-trained filly September Run, another Group 1 winner down the 1200m straight at Flemington.

Her elite level success came over the boys in Derby Day last start in the spring when the progressive daughter of Exceed And Excel took her winning streak at Flemington to three straight with a nearly two length victory in the Group 1 Coolmore Stud Stakes.

Waller won the Newmarket Handicap back in 2015 with Brazen Beau and, along with the early favourite, has a further three nominations in 2021 as he chases another led by Nature Strip.

A winner of just under $6 million in career prize money, Nicconi six-year-old Nature Strip is a four-time Flemington winner from six runs at the track.

He has enjoyed four Group 1 victories to date – two in Sydney and two in Melbourne – including most recently the TJ Smith Stakes at Randwick last April.

His last Victorian win meanwhile was in the 2019 VRC Derby.

While it’s been a while between drinks south of the border for Nature Stirp, he did place second in the VRC Classic to Bivouac as mentioned last November and looked strong in a recent Rosehill trial ahead of his autumn return.

Rounding out the Waller-trained Newmarket entries are consistent stable stalwart Imaging and Zoustar mare Haut Brion Her who ran third and second respectively behind Gytrash in Rosehill’s $1 million Winners Stakes last October.

Other notable Newmarket Handicap nominees include Peter & Paul Snowden’s Snitzel colt Wild Ruler last seen running third in the Coolmore Stud Stakes, Blue Diamond winning juvenile Tagaloa looking to return to his best and the untapped Hawkes Racing-trained filly Written Beauty.

Newmarket Handicap first acceptances close at midday on Tuesday the 16^th of February, 2021 with all-in markets on the event available in full here courtesy of Ladbrokes.com.au.

2020 Newmarket Handicap Nominations

Table Credit: Racing Australia.