Top Melbourne jockey Craig Newitt is hoping his luck will continue into Blue Diamond Stakes Day at Caulfield today after riding a winning double at Moonee Valley last night.
Craig Newitt hopes his luck continues on Blue Diamond Stakes Day. Photo by Race Horse Photos Australia.
While Newitt will be on $61 outsider Stratum Star for trainer Rick Hore-Lacy in the Group 1 $1m Sportingbet Blue Diamond Stakes (1200m), he has some very good rides in several of the other feature races.
Newitt will be teaming up again with trainer Mick Price when he partners Lankan Rupee in the Group 1 $400,000 Sportingbet Oakleigh Plate (1100m) after the pair combined with Jazz Song to score an upset win in the Group 3 $120,000 Simpson Construction Typhoon Tracy Stakes (1200m) at Moonee Valley last night.
The very experienced Newitt was also at his best on the Robert Smerdon trained Go The Knuckle who won the 955m Second Challenge Heat 14 at his first run since finishing second in the Group 3 $150,000 Ronald McDonald House Monash Sandown Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield on November 16.
Even though Stratum Star is unplaced from two race starts, he did make up plenty of ground in the straight when beaten just over three lengths when seventh to Rubick in the Group 3 $150,000 Sportingbet Blue Diamond Prelude (C&G) (1100m) at Caulfield on February 8.
Newitt’s best chance of riding a Group 1 winner is with Lankan Rupee who is currently the $3.50 favourite for the Oakleigh Plate.
Lankan Rupee has continued to impress Newitt on the training tracks since winning the Group 2 $175,000 Schweppes Rubiton Stakes (1100m) at Caulfield on February 8, and the top jockey gave Price a glowing report after Tuesday’s workout.
“He ran home in 24 seconds and change (for the last 400m) and he never got out of first gear,” Newitt told AAP.
“He’ll go there on Saturday and he’s the one they’ve got to beat.”
Newitt is also on third favourite Sizzling for Chris Waller in the Group 1 $500,000 Cathay Pacific Futurity Stakes (1400m) and a win wouldn’t surprise after the former Queensland trained four year old put in a solid first up effort when third to Appearance in the Group 2 $200,000 SCSI Expressway Stakes (1200m) at Randwick on February 8.
Gai Waterhouse’s three year old Bull Point has been well supported and is currently the $2.60 favourite for the weight for age Futurity Stakes just ahead of Moment Of Change ($3.30) who is going for back to back Group 1 wins after leading all of the way last start in the $400,000 Sportingbet C.F. Orr Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield on February 8.
Newitt will also be on the Waller trained Foreteller ($6) who has the job of knocking over last year’s Melbourne Cup winner Firoente ($2.25 favourite) who is resuming in the Group 2 $220,000 Carlton Draught Peter Young Stakes (1800m).
He will also be teaming up with Waller on Vilanova in the Group 2 $220,000 BMW Caulfield Autumn Classic (1800m) and his other rides are This Is The Show in the Group 3 $135,000 Sportingbet Zedative Stakes (1200m), Arikara in the Group 2 $220,000 Polytrack Angus Armanasco Stakes (1400m) and Hi Belle in the Group 3 $150,000 Premier Signs Mannerism Stakes (1400m).
