Early betting picture – 2016 Newcastle Newmarket

The Gai Waterhouse-trained Ecuador is the top pick with bookmakers in early markets on Wednesday's Group III Newcastle Newmarket Handicap (1350m) at the Beaumont track.

Ecuador was last seen finishing 3-1/2 lengths astern of Holler in the Group I Canterbury Stakes (1300m) at weight-for-age on March 5. The son of High Chaparral reverts to handicap conditions in the provincial feature with 57kg and Blake Shinn to ride.

Ecuador has not won since May 2015 but the gelding is favoured to make a return to the winners' circle at a top price of $6 based on Racenet's surveyed bookmakers.

David Vandyke's Bull Point is on the next line of betting between $6 and $7.50, narrowly ahead of the Chris Waller-trained Sadler's Lake.

Italian import Goldstream is perhaps the most intriguing runner in the race, having its first start for local trainer Kris Lees after winning a Group II in Rome and finishing fourth in the Group I Secretariat Stakes at Arlington last year.

The four-year-old entire trialled over 1000 metres on the Beaumont track on March 1, finishing half a length behind stablemate Lucia Valentina, which subsequently ran fourth in last Saturday's Group I Coolmore Classic (1500m).

The best price currently on offer for Goldstream is $9.50.

Below is a comparison of early fixed odds prices for the 2016 Newcastle Newmarket.