Outside Newmarket Handicap gate for Home Affairs

Chris Waller’s talented three-year-old colt Home Affairs has come up with barrier 16 of 17 in Saturday’s Group 1 Newmarket Handicap (1200m) at Flemington.

The son of I Am Invincible stood up to the big boys last time defeating stablemate Nature Strip and subsequent winner Eduardo in the Group 1 Black Caviar Lightning (1000m).

Unbeaten in two starts at Headquarters (both at G1 level), Home Affairs will be looking to add the Newmarket Handicap to his impressive resume having also claimed the Coolmore Stud Stakes (1200m) last spring.

Waller also saddles up September Run who went into this race as favourite last year before being beaten 3.75 lengths by Zoutori.

The reigning Newmarket champ, Zoutori, has come up with barrier 1 in Saturday’s sprint feature.

Trained by Matthew Ellerton, the son of Zoustar finished 12th of 13 first-up in the Oakleigh Plate (1100m), a race he was 7th in prior to last year’s win in the Newmarket.

John O’Shea’s five-year-old gelding, Lost And Running, comes into the race with strong form having defeated subsequent Inglis Sprint (1200m) winner Overpass in the Group 3 Southern Cross Stakes (1200m) at Randwick.

And O’Shea’s other runner, Quantico, will be first-up from a spell but looking to make it four wins in a row having run quick time (1:08.46) to win the MSS Security Sprint at this track and trip on Melbourne Cup Day last campaign.

2022 Newmarket Handicap Field and Barrier Draw