Indian Pacific winning Saturday 2 January 2021 at Ascot Racecourse
The Listed Heineken-Belmont Newmarket Handicap (1200m) looks to be an incredibly strong race with plenty of depth in it this year.
Four of the acceptors come from the Neville Parnham and Chris & Michael Gangemi stable who saddle up Indian Pacific, Malibu Style, Samizdat and Floyd respectively.
Indian Pacific has been allocated the 61.5kg and drawn barrier 9 coming off a very strong trial at Belmont Park at the start of the month.
The Group 1 Newmarket runner-up was potentially going to run a fortnight ago in Perth, while there had also been discussion about him returning to Victoria.
Stablemate Malibu Style will be hoping to bounce back having finished last in his last two races at Ascot in his previous campaign.
The ten-year-old gelding by Magnus relishes the wet conditions and did trial well behind Indian Pacific.
Samizdat will have the blinkers applied for his first-up assignment, also coming from the trial behind Indian Pacific.
Clint Johnston-Porter takes the ride for the first time and will be hoping he can add to his impressive first-up record of 6: 3-0-0.
Floyd will appreciate the extra 200m, handling the heavy 10 conditions last start in the New Season Sprint, but just finding the 1000m to short.
The race will start at 4.15pm local time.