The Gai Waterhouse-trained stayer Herculian Prince heads weights for the Newmarket Handicap – the Newcastle Jockey Club’s flagship autumn race.
Last year’s Metropolitan Handicap winner has been asked to carry 59.5kg if he resumes in the Group Three feature on Thursday.
Herculian Prince hasn’t raced since an unsuccessful Melbourne spring campaign but he has contested two Randwick barrier trials ahead of his return.
Waterhouse, chasing a third Newmarket win, has set Herculian Prince for next month’s Doncaster Mile at Randwick.
Love Conquers All is next in the Newcastle weights with 58.5kg while Group One-winning mare Purple has 56.5kg.
The 2010 Doncaster Mile placegetter Brilliant Light and Triple Elegance, one of the early fancies for this year’s edition, have 56kg.
Bart Cummings’s 2007 Queensland Derby winner Empires Choice and Triple Elegance’s stablemate Snow Alert have 55.5kg.
Trainer John Thompson has six entries – five of which are mares.
His nominations are No Evidence Needed, Marquardt, Happy Hippy, So Anyway, Small Minds and Shamardashing.
Weights were declared for 28 horses.
AAP TURF
