Flemington straight course specialist Redkirk Warrior will be targeted towards a third Group 1 $1.25m Seppelt Newmarket Handicap (1200m) at Flemington on March 9 after being allocated the 2019 equal top weight with 58.5kg.

Redkirk Warrior, above, is the equal top weight for the 2019 Newmarket Handicap at Flemington. Photo by Ultimate Racing Photos.

Redkirk Warrior, above, is the equal top weight for the 2019 Newmarket Handicap at Flemington. Photo by Ultimate Racing Photos.

The Lindsay Park Team of David and Ben Hayes and Tom Dabernig was hoping to qualify Redkirk Warrior for the $5m All-Star Mile over 1600m at Flemington on March 16 but after failing to fill a spot, will now try and win a third Newmarket Handicap with the big chestnut.

Lindsay Park’s head trainer David Hayes said the Team had trained Redkirk Warrior to handle the step up to 1400m and ultimately up to 1600m but will now revert back to the sprinting distances following his unlucky sixth to Alizee in the Group 1 $500,000 Yulong Futurity Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield last Saturday.

“We were hoping for the wildcard (for the All-Star Mile) but he got blocked and was denied his chance in the Futurity so we’ll probably go for history and try for a third Newmarket win,” Hayes told racing.com.

“It was disappointing last week as he got pole-axed and he would have been right in the finish if he got his run, but we’ll get over it if he can win a third.”

Redkirk Warrior will be chasing a third successive win in the Newmarket Handicap after beating Voodoo Lad in 2017 and Brave Smash in 2018.

Redkirk Warrior will share the top weight of 58.5kg with Anthony Freedman’s three times Group 1 winner Santa Ana Lane who was spelled after winning his third Group 1 trophy with his barnstorming finish in the Group 1 $1m VRC Sprint Classic (1200m) at Flemington on the last day of the 2018 Melbourne Cup Carnival.

Santa Ana Lane is currently marked at $10 for the Newmarket Handicap at Ladbrokes.com.au while Redkirk Warrior is listed as a $21 chance to make it three on the trot.

The James Cummings trained Osborne Bulls heads the market order at $3.30 and has been handicapped with 56kg.

Early betting for the 2019 Newmarket Handicap at Ladbrokes.com.au: $3.30 Osborne Bulls, $6 Graff, $7 In Her Time, $9 Eduardo, Zousain, $10 Santa Ana Lane, $13 Sunlight, $15 Lean Mean Machine, $16 Bons Away, Brave Smash, Brutal, Encryption, $18 Spright, $21 Booker, Redkirk Warrior, Shoals, $26 Divine Quality, Kementari, Voodoo Lad, $31 Missrock, Whispering Brook $41 or better the rest.

Weights for the 2019 Newmarket Handicap (1200m)

# Last 10 Horse Sex Age Trainer Ballot Weight Hcp Rating
1 0311x5161x SANTA ANA LANE G 6 Anthony Freedman 1 58.5kg 116
2 1x00x0x576 REDKIRK WARRIOR (GB) G 8 David & B Hayes & T Dabernig 2 58.5kg 116
3 x139x372x1 IN HER TIME M 6 Kris Lees 3 55.5kg 114
4 x81x1x320x SHOALS M 4 Anthony Freedman 4 55kg 113
5 332818×947 BRAVE SMASH (JPN) H 6 Kris Lees 5 57kg 113
6 0x242439x2 KEMENTARI H 4 James Cummings 6 56kg 111
7 121x1531x2 OSBORNE BULLS G 5 James Cummings 7 56kg 111
8 01212481×4 VOODOO LAD G 7 Ciaron Maher & David Eustace 8 56kg 111
9 13x21171x3 SUNLIGHT F 3 Tony McEvoy 9 50.5kg 109
10 474x7282x1 BOOKER M 4 Mathew Ellerton & Simon Zahra 10 53kg 109
11 361221×715 MANUEL H 5 Tony McEvoy 11 55kg 109
12 2411118×10 NATURE STRIP G 4 Chris Waller 12 54.5kg 108
13 x1415x1110 WHISPERING BROOK M 5 Simon A Miller 13 52.5kg 108
14 x0150x4332 DOTHRAKI G 8 Peter & Paul Snowden 14 54.5kg 108
15 30x320x317 CHAMPAGNE CUDDLES M 4 Bjorn Baker 15 52kg 107
16 11x1235x4 GRAFF C 3 Kris Lees 16 51kg 106
17 6122x422x2 ZOUSAIN C 3 Chris Waller 17 51kg 106
18 6x85125x32 ENCRYPTION C 3 James Cummings 18 51kg 106
19 8661x347x5 SPRIGHT M 5 Garry Frazer 19 52kg 106
20 x598x51326 FELL SWOOP G 7 Matthew Dale 20 53.5kg 106
21 133x2413x3 I AM EXCITED M 4 David Pfieffer 21 52kg 104
22 8513x334x0 I’LL HAVE A BIT M 4 John McArdle 22 52kg 103
23 0x43322x14 BONS AWAY G 5 Ciaron Maher & David Eustace 23 52kg 103
24 11x221x3 EDUARDO G 5 Sarah Zschoke 24 52kg 101
25 3x70x7326x KEMONO (JPN) H 4 Ciaron Maher & David Eustace 25 52kg 100
26 20×3709455 MISSROCK M 5 Robbie Laing 26 52kg 100
27 2120×40751 STELLAR COLLISION G 6 Ciaron Maher & David Eustace 27 52kg 100
28 3310x153x7 LEAN MEAN MACHINE C 3 Chris Waller 28 50kg 99
29 x37x120957 ELLICAZOOM M 5 David & B Hayes & T Dabernig 29 52kg 98
30 222274x1x8 DIVINE QUALITY M 5 Robbie Griffiths 30 52kg 98
31 111×3 BRUTAL (NZ) C 3 Michael, Wayne & John Hawkes 31 50kg 97
32 x000686x20 FUHRYK M 5 David & B Hayes & T Dabernig 32 52kg 97
33 x020164x29 GLENALL H 5 Michael, Wayne & John Hawkes 33 52kg 96
34 x64164x6x0 STEEL FROST G 6 Will Clarken 34 52kg 96
35 67x00x6x10 CHAUFFEUR H 4 David & B Hayes & T Dabernig 35 52kg 92
36 2x12351x30 CHARGE C 3 Chris Waller 36 50kg 84
37 213x5200x2 SPANISH WHISPER F 3 David & B Hayes & T Dabernig 37 50kg 81
38 731×221112 MYSTYKO (NZ) G 5 Trevor Rogers 38 52kg 79
39 93186×3150 USAIN BOWLER G 4 John Sadler 39 52kg 78
40 214×135 POISED TO STRIKE G 3 David & B Hayes & T Dabernig 40 50kg 73

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