Newnham dreams of breaking Metropolitan drought

IT has been almost 20 years since a mare won the Group 1 Metropolitan Handicap and trainer Mark Newnham believes Scarlet Dream is capable of breaking the drought.

The Gai Waterhousetrained Coco Cobanna was the last mare to win the Group 1 staying feature in 2001 and, like Scarlet Dream, contested the race as a four- year-old.

She goes in to today’s race on the 50kg limit and Newnham says that could be telling.

“I think four-year-old mares are well placed now that they’ve adjusted the weights,” he said.

“Last year the first five across the line were weighted between 50 and 51 kilos, so that tells you it’s a good lightweights race.”

Scarlet Dream demonstrated her staying promise when she beat all bar Verry Elleegant in the ATC Australian Oaks over the Metropolitan course and distance.

She resumed with a solid second over 1500m then dropped too far back in the Kingston Town Stakes (2000m) which was dominated by the horses on speed.

Fearing she was too far down the order of entry, Newnham put her in last week’s Colin Stephen Quality and was pleased when she did not have to run.

“I only accepted with her because I was worried she may not have got a start in the Metrop and when it became apparent that she would, I was happy to scratch her,” he said.

A former jockey, he has given his apprentice Robbie Dolan a vote of confidence, booking him for the Metropolitan Handicap (2400m) ride.

It will be one of two Group 1 mounts for Dolan, along with Godolphin’s Cascadian in the Epsom Handicap.

Newnham has faith in the young Irishman and says Dolan’s riding statistics from last season back him up.

“In the last 20 years I think there have only been four apprentices ride more than 40 winners in town for a season and he rode nearly 50,” he said. “That tells you he’s up to it. “He’s had a couple of Group and Listed wins already and the rides he’s had in Group 1s he has ridden well, they just haven’t been good enough.”

Scarlet Dream and Colin Stephen winner Stampede shared the second line of betting yesterday at $6.50 behind Brimham Rocks, the $4.20 favourite to give Chris Waller his fourth win in the race.