After just failing to land the Rockhampton Newmarket when absolutely flying at the finish, arriving just a couple of strides too late to take the honours and cause a massive boilver at odds of $101, the Lachie Manzelmann-trained Red Hot Lizzie was not going to be denied in the Mackay Newmarket, which she landed with some authority, beating her stable companion Outback Action by a decisive 2.45-length margin.
It’s a red-hot day for Lachie Manzelmann as Red Hot Lizzie takes the Mackay Newmarket!
That’s the last 3 races to the Manzelmann stable – and the quinella here! 🔥 🔥 🔥@Lachie_M_1999 @RaceQLD pic.twitter.com/i9ajcBdi9m— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) July 17, 2026
After that previous effort, Red Hot Lizzie started as the $3.60 race favourite with the Lyle Wright-trained Obligated being Red Hot Lizzie’s closest rival in the betting market at $6.50.
Chris McIver, who rode Red Hot Lizzie at Rockhampton, again took the reins of the favourite and he had Red Hot Lizzie tracking the speed early, sitting a little over four lengths off the lead with her market rival Obligated keeping her company, racing on the inside of the Manzelmann-trained runner.
McIver was quick to get to work on Red Hot Lizzie approaching the home turn and the daughter of Hellbent responded well to move up into the firing line, albeit cornering four wide.
By way of contrast, Obligated had remained on the rail, saving ground, with Ashley Butler riding for luck on the second favourite.
While Obligated waited for a clear run to appear in the first half of the straight … it did come at the 200m mark … Red Hot Lizzie was always in clear running in the home straight with McIver taking her smoothly through her gears, meaning she was already carrying race-winning momentum by the time Obligated was able to make his move along the rail.
The more urgent task facing Red Hot Lizzie with 200m left to run was to chase down her stable companion Outback Action ($9.50) who had hit the lead at that stage, but that proved to pose little problem for Red Hot Lizzie who burst to the front with 120m left to run and then maintained that effort to score a clear-cut and well-deserved victory.
The $12 chance Liberty Steps finished third. Obligated, who never seriously threatened the winner, had to settle for fourth place.
