Melbourne jockey Craig Newitt will take full advantage of the Black Caviar hype sweeping the world and try to sneak a lead in the jockey’s premiership while main rival Luke Nolen is in England to ride the super mare.
Craig Newitt will try to sneak a lead in the jockey's premiership - photo © Taron Clarke
Nolen left for England after last Saturday’s Flemington meeting where he rode a winning double but Newitt drew level in his absence with a winner at Sandown during the week to join Nolen on sixty-one metropolitan wins.
Nolen said that he would be returning to Melbourne as soon as his job is done on Black Caviar in the Group 1 £500,000 The Diamond Jubilee Stakes (6 furlongs) at Royal Ascot on Saturday to continue his fight to retain his premiership title.
“I’ll be coming straight home. I want to win the premiership,” Nolen said.
Newitt has left no stone unturned as he strives to wrestle the title off Nolen and has worked overtime with an unbelievable 1115 rides to date for the season which includes two Group 1 wins.
“While I’m still reasonably young and pretty fit I might as well take advantage of it,” Newitt said.
“I don’t go to the races unless I think I can ride a winner.”
“I have a great wife who looks after the boys while I’m on the road, it’s hard work but we get rewarded.”
“I would say it has been my best year to date.”
Newitt’s Group 1 wins were The Verminator for premier Sydney trainer Chris Waller in the $400,000 The Big 6 Metropolitan (2400m) at Randwick on October 1 and two year old Samaready for his main supporter Mick Price in the $1m Patinack Farm Blue Diamond Stakes (1200m) at Caulfield on February 26.
Price could supply Newitt with an early winner at Flemington tomorrow on Isabella Snowflake who is the first of five rides for the day.
The unraced Not A Single Doubt filly is a $4.70 chance in the 1000m Eugene Gorman Plate for two year olds and Newitt is giving her a good chance of making a winning debut.
“She’s a lovely filly and goes reasonably good,” Newitt said.
“I’m sure she will run a good race and acquit herself well.”
Newitt is back aboard Dash For Viz and gives himself a good chance in the 1000m All Victorian Sprint Series following the five year olds first up second at Flemington on June when ridden by Linda Meech.
Dash For Viz is equal second favourite with Alpha Proxima at $5.50 behind the promising Johannapine who heads the betting at $2.25.
“He went super the other day and I thought he was a bit stiff,” Newitt said.
“I’ve got a good rapport with him, he goes pretty well for me and any rain around won’t hurt him.”
And Newitt expects a better performance from Geejayhaitch in the 2500m Banjo Paterson Series after the eight year old put in a solid effort when fifth over 2000m at Flemington last week.
“The 2000m didn’t suit him the other day,” Newitt said.
“Up to 2500m this week I’d expect him to be very hard to beat and then his main aim will be the final. He ran really well in it for third last year.”
Newitt’s remaining rides are Future Solutions in the 1420m TROA/Luxbet Winter Championship Series and Population in the 1630m David Burke Provincial Plate.
