Craig Newitt has been booked to ride Sertorius in the 2015 Melbourne Cup, but he believes it will be Fame Game that proves the hardest to beat in ‘the race that stops a nation’ at Flemington on Tuesday.
Craig Newitt has been booked to ride Sertroius in the 2015 Melbourne Cup. Photo by: Race Horse Photos Australia
Newitt partnered Volkstok’n’barrell to a 12th place finish in the Group 1 Caulfield Cup (2400m) and after assessing the replays of the race he could not miss the flashing run of Fame Game to finish sixth.
Fame Game is currently available at 2015 Melbourne Cup odds of $4 and Newitt said on Correct Weight this morning that he can see exactly why the Japanese stayer has been so well-supported ahead of the Group 1 event.
“Fame Game, without a doubt,” Newitt said when asked who was the horse to beat in the Melbourne Cup.
“His run in the Caulfield Cup was outstanding and he’s got all the credentials.
“Flemington and the two miles is going to suit.
“He’s definitely the one.”
Newitt has been booked to ride Sertorius in the 2015 Melbourne Cup and he said that he was thrilled to receive the invitation to ride the veteran stayer in the $6 million race.
The Victoria Derby winning hoop admits that Sertorius faces a very tough challenge in the Melbourne Cup, but he believes that the lead-up form of the Galileo entire has been better than it looks on paper and he has taken confident from the glowing assessment he received about the horse from trainer Jamie Edwards.
“Well the way I like to look at it, we’ve got a ticket in the lottery and you’ve got to be in it to win it,” Newitt sad
“He’s only had one go at the two miles, he ran third in the Sydney Cup behind The Offer.
“His form this preparation is probably a lot better than what it reads on paper.
“Obviously he’s got a big test ahead of him, but Jamie is confident the horse is going well enough.
“He’s drawn a gate, he’s going to get a soft run and anything can happen.”
Newitt is chasing his first win in the Melbourne Cup after previously missing the placings with Seismos (ninth behind Protectionist in 2014), Foreteller (17th behind Fiorente in 2013), Zabeelionaire (22nd behind Green Moon in 2012), The Verminator (13th behind Dunaden in 2011), Harris Tweed (fifth behind Shocking in 2009), Guyno (12th behind Viewed in 2008), Eskimo Queen (15th behind Efficient in 2007), Ain’t Seen Nothing (13th behind Makybe Diva in 2003) and Miss Meliss (tenth behind Media Puzzle in 2002).
Sertorius is currently available at 2015 Melbourne Cup odds of $201 and he is set to start the race as the extreme outsider.
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