Zoutori wins Newmarket Handicap at Flemington

Zoutori became a hometrack hero after scoring an upset win in the Group 1 Newmarket Handicap.

Zoutori storms home with Luke Currie aboard for a narrow win in the Seppelt Wines Newmarket Handicap at Flemington. Picture: Reg Ryan/Racing Photos via Getty Images

Noted homebody Zoutori stepped out the back door and into the Group 1 winner’s club with a determined effort under 57kg in the Group 1 Newmarket Handicap (1200m) at Flemington.

The 1200m start at Flemington is only metres from Zoutori’s box at the Mathew Ellerton and Simon Zahra stable. Zoutori’s prowess down the Flemington straight track landed him a pair of Group 2 wins over the Newmarket course in the spring.

Zoutori was left to carry 57kg in the Newmarket Handicap after the withdrawal of previous topweights Nature Strip and Bivouac, who were in action in Sydney on Saturday.

UPSET!

🏆 ZOUTORI WINS THE GROUP 1 NEWMARKET HANDICAP.

September Run thoughts? pic.twitter.com/T2un34UN9E

— 7HorseRacing 🐎 (@7horseracing) March 6, 2021

The conditions of the $1.5 million race require the topweight to carry a minimum of 57kg, forcing the weights for the entire field up 2kg. Zoutori carried 55kg when fourth to Bivouac in last year’s Newmarket.

Zoutori coped with the weight rise best with the aid of a clever ride from jockey Luke Currie, who negotiated the tricky barrier four before setting the son of Zoustar to have the last crack at the leaders.

Currie drove Zoutori ($20) over the top of the game Perth sprinter Indian Pacific ($21) to score by a head while $81 chance Amish Boy rounded out the placings. The $19 chance Prague finished fourth, producing a first four dividend of $314,286.

Ellerton said he was surprisingly nervous before the Newmarket Handicap but hailed Currie’s handling of the sprinter.

“I don’t get too nervous pre-raceday but I was a little but toey today,” Ellerton said.

“Things have gone to plan with him from the Oakleigh Plate and he’s really come on well.

“Probably the only thing in the back of my mind was drawing (barrier) four. Luke gave him a great steer.”

Zoutori gave Currie his fourth Group 1 win of the season, a remarkable achievement after spending most of last season on the sidelines following a neck injury suffered in February last year.

“Probably the only thing in the back of my mind was drawing (barrier) four. Luke gave him a great steer.”

Zoutori gave Currie his fourth Group 1 win of the season, a remarkable achievement after spending most of last season on the sidelines following a neck injury suffered in February last year.

“She wasn’t beaten far but she didn’t get a smooth run throughout,” Williams said.

“She was inconvenienced with her run from the 400 (metres) to the winning post and didn’t get the favours we were hoping to get.”