Newitt fights for stay

PREMIER jockey Craig Newitt has lodged an appeal against the two-meeting suspension incurred in Launceston last Wednesday night that threatens to deprive him of plum rides in two states in the coming fortnight.

Newitt was charged with careless riding by stewards for allowing his mount Border Protection to shift in at the 300m mark when not fully clear of Worthy Opponent, which subsequently was severely checked and blundered as a result of the interference.

Stewards rated the interference in the high range and that the carelessness was in the mid to low range.

Newitt lodged his appeal last Friday and he is hoping for a stay of proceedings that would allow him the freedom to ride Free of Debt in Saturday’s Group 1 Oakleigh Plate at Caulfield and at the Tasmanian Oaks and Magic Millions meeting in Launceston the following day.

A stay of proceedings could also allow him to take the sit on the Charlie Goggin and Luella Meaburn-trained Exoteric on the Launceston Cup on Wednesday week and take the ride on Deroche in the $150,000 Group 3 Vamos Stakes.

“I lodged the appeal against the charge and penalty on Friday so I expect to hear on Monday whether or not I have been granted a stay of proceedings,” Newitt said. TOORAK AFFAIR’S trainer Michael Trinder says the mare has thrived since her Hobart Cup win and that’s good news for connections but bad news for her Launceston Cup rivals, given the way she dispensed with her rivals in the first of the state’s two major cups. Launceston Cup (2400m) nominations close at noon on Wednesday with weights declared the following day and final acceptances to be declared at 9am on Friday.

The Launceston Cup barrier draw will be held at a special function at the Mowbray Racing Centre in Launceston on Friday night at 7pm.