Newmarket Handicap history and star Kiwi standing in front of Magic Time at Flemington

A jumpout at Flemington last Friday was a final touch in Magic Time’s bid to topple Kiwi star Imperatriz and defeat the history books in Saturday’s Group 1 Newmarket Handicap.

Magic Time wins the Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes.

Magic Time has history and Imperatriz to defy in Saturday’s Newmarket Handicap.

The Group 1 mare has a chance to become only the fifth first-up winner of the famous Flemington sprint in more than a century.

Roch ‘N’ Horse achieved the feat in 2022 off a 56-day break between runs, while Redkirk Warrior in 2017 claimed the first of two Newmarkets with a 119-day gap.

Grahame Begg-trained Magic Time could match Redkirk Warrior on Saturday – 119 days since her Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes triumph.

“History is meant to be broken,” Begg said.

“She has got a good record and she races very well fresh, that’s why we thought we’ll have a crack at Newmarket.”

Magic Time is slated to get 53.5kg in the Newmarket Handicap – a 4.5kg advantage over eight-time Group 1-winner and favourite Imperatriz.

Such a great thrill for the @Milburn_Creek team to see our home bred Magic Time win the G1 Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes for @Grahame_Begg and @mickdee020, becoming the first G1 winner for @yarramanpark's Hellbent.@mmsnippets@anz_news@TTRAusNZ@TB_NSW@breednet@Aushorse_TBApic.twitter.com/PlKyG4lufS

— Milburn Creek Stud (@Milburn_Creek) November 18, 2023

Weights for the 151st Newmarket Handicap, first run in 1874, will be released on Monday.

Begg considered the weight-for-age Group 1 Canterbury Stakes (1300m) in Sydney on Saturday but elected to “utilise the handicap” in Melbourne.

“While she’s down low in the handicaps we wanted to use that and then we’ll head to Sydney after Saturday,” Begg said.

“We’ll look at maybe running in the TJ Smith and All Aged Stakes, which looks a very good race for her.”

Magic Time finished fourth in an 800m straight jumpout at Flemington last Friday.

Magic Time (left) during an exhibition gallop at Sandown last month as she prepares for the Newmarket Handicap at Flemington. Picture: Getty Images.

The four-year-old also galloped strongly between races at Sandown last month.

“She wasn’t out to do a lot (Friday) just go through her gears, have a bit of a look at the track,” Begg said.

“She has only raced here once around the circle when she won The Amanda Elliott, not last spring carnival but the one before.

“It was good to bring her away from Cranbourne, a trip away, just to tighten her up.

“Mick (Dee) had a very good hold of her, she was pretty tractable.”

The 119-day gap between runs is a bit deceiving fitness wise, as Magic Time raced deep into the spring, culminating in an impressive Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes triumph.

“To be truthful she didn’t have to do a lot, it’s a pretty tight turnaround from running in the Rupert Clarke,” Begg said.

“We gave her a bit of a break, obviously we always love to give them longer but we wanted to run in the autumn … she’s been in work a good amount of time.”

The Newmarket has been good to fillies and mares the past five years with Sunlight (2019), Roch ‘N’ Horse (2022) and In Secret (2023) victorious.

Imperatriz has history of her own to make, if successful, as only the third horse since 1991 to win the Newmarket with 58kg or more.

Legendary mare Black Caviar won with 58kg in 2011, while Hay Listed saluted a year later with 58.5kg.

Originally published as Newmarket Handicap history and star Kiwi standing in front of Magic Time at Flemington