3 minute read

Bivouac and Nature Strip set to carry topweight

Five-time Group 1 winner Nature Strip (Nicconi) and defending champion Bivouac (Exceed And Excel) have been allocated the joint topweight of 58.5kg for this year’s renewal of the Newmarket Handicap (Gr 1, 1200m) at Flemington on March 6. 

The Chris Waller-trained Nature Strip was last seen beating the son of Exceed And Excel (Danehill) into fourth in the Black Caviar Lightning Stakes (Gr 1, 1000m) on February 13, while Nature Strip’s stablemare September Run (Exceed And Excel) finished second that day and she has been allotted 52kgs in the Newmarket. 

Should September Run win the Group 1 it will be her second elite level victory, adding to her win in last year’s Coolmore Stud Stakes (registered as Ascot Vale Stakes).

A number of prominent finishers from last week's Oakleigh Plate (Gr 1, 1100m) are also targeting victory in the Newmarket Handicap, with joint winner Celebrity Queen (Redoute’s Choice) (54kg), third-placed Kemalpasa (Magnus) (54.5kg) and Brooklyn Hustle (Starspangledbanner) (52kg), who finished fourth, all nominated for the Newmarket. 

Other notable contenders include Leon and Troy Corstens' high-class three-year-old filly Swats That (Shamus Award), who has been assigned 50kg, and straight specialist Zoutori (Zoustar) (55kg).