GUN HOOP BACK WITH NEWHART
jockey Craig Newitt has answered the call to be reunited with dual Devonport Cup winner Newhart, resuming from a lengthy break in the Deloraine Cup over 1450 metres in Launceston on Sunday.
When the Covid pandemic hit Tasmania over two years ago and the racing industry was shut down by the state government, Newitt hightailed it back to the mainland for what ended up being a permanent shift.
It ended up being a 10-week hiatus but for Newitt it shut down his income and with four children to feed he had no option but to return to Victoria after almost three years of back living in the state he so dearly loves.
But in the 10 weeks he realised he was still a much sought-after commodity and this season he has continued to ride successfully and sits seventh on the metropolitan jockeys’ premiership table with 91 wins and 170 minor placings for $4.8 million in prizemoney.
Newitt left Tasmania as a 17-yearold apprentice and after making his way to the top of the tree on thew national stage, he returned to his old hometown of Devonport where he intended easing his family back into a more balanced lifestyle. While he has no intention of returning to live in Tasmania in the short term, his visit on Sunday will be welcomed by all, especially trainers who have managed to secure his services.
Newitt guided Newhart to victory in two Devonport Cups and last season he also captured the state’s two feature weight-for-age events in the Thomas Lyons (1400m) and the Mowbray Stakes (1600m).
The brilliant rider has taken three rides for Longford trainer John Blacker, for whom he had a lot of success when he first came back to the state.
Newitt will partner Blacker’s lightly raced four-year-old mare Surangani in a 1220m maiden, and he also jumps aboard her stablemate Alpine Blast in a class one handicap over 1220m.
Newitt was aboard Alpine Blast when he broke his maiden status over 1350m in Devonport in late December last year.
He will ride Further North for Blacker in the last of eight races, the Guy Newitt Memorial, named in honour of the rider’s late father.
Blacker could have a good day at the office.
But Newitt isn’t riding his threeyear-old maiden performer Zewinna that looks one of the trainer’s best winTASMANIAN
ning chances on the eight-event program. Zewinna was an eye-catching second in Hobart last Sunday and would only need to replicate that form to break her maiden status.
The grey filly, owned and raced in partnership by Rob Hammond, has the services of apprentice Chelsea Baker who has been in great form.
The Rowan Hamer-trained Eight Margaritas is likely to start favourite, but she has been placed second at four of her past five starts with punters close to running out of patience.