Three prominent stables will be hoping they can end a century-long drought and win the $1.25 million Newmarket Handicap with horses who are first up from a spell.

Not since 1917, when Playcrates was successful, has that feat been achieved.

The three trainers attempting a first-up win - Robbie Griffiths, Davis Hayes and Darren Weir - are doing it for contrasting reasons.

The Quarterback, who is defending his Newmarket title, , had to be scratched at the barrier in the Black Caviar Lightning. So Griffiths is not running him first-up  by design. 

Hayes, however, has had Redkirk Warrior set for the Newmarket for some months.

"He is a very, very smart horse. He raced in Hong Kong and competed against some of the best sprinters in that country," he said.

"He came to me with some serious feet problems and once we got him right, he went to Moonee Valley and had no luck. Then a month later he won at Sandown against group 3 horses and that day he beat Stratum Star. I know it's been a hundred years but his work has been sensational and he's got no weight on his back."

The other contender will be Voodoo Lad, trained by Weir, who . also has Hellbent in the race.

Hayes'  Australian Cup hopefuls were reduced after the tough, front-running import Pilote D'Essai bowed a tendon in trackwork last week.

"That was a blow but we're hopeful through good rehabilitation the horse can come back and be competitive," he said.

"It only leaves me with one runner and that's Boom Time, but he's won four of his last five starts, so he'll be competitive."

Weir will have a strong hand in the Australian Cup with Stratum Star, Real Love and Humidor.All three have excellent chances in a most open race.p.

Meanwhile, Hayes believes the form out of Saturday's Randwick meeting as far as the Golden Slipper is concerned may be misleading.

"It was very heavy and if you handled it, you won, which is a credit to you, but if you're beaten you couldn't take much notice of it as they obviously failed to handle the conditions," he said.

He said that Catchy, his main Golden Slipper hope, would go to Sydney next Monday  after having her final gallop at Lindsay Park.