No Compromise for Newitt in Caulfield Cup
THE jockey roundabout and La Nina could combine to break a six-year drought for jockey Craig Newitt in the $5m Caulfield Cup on Saturday.
Newitt has ridden 33 Group 1 winners but none since he steered Extreme Choice to victory in the 2016 Moir Stakes at The Valley.
Champion trainer Chris Waller has provided Newitt with the chance to change that statistic with No Compromise in the Caulfield Cup (2400m).
Tommy Berry rode No Compromise to win the Group 1 Metropolitan Handicap (2400m) at Randwick at the gelding’s last start but the Sydney jockey has opted to ride the Annabel Neasham-trained Numerian at Caulfield.
Waller called on Newitt to ride No Compromise at 53.5kg, a luxury weight for the lightweight rider.
Newitt has ridden two Group 1 winners for Waller. The pair combined to win the 2013 Makybe Diva Stakes with Foreteller and the Metropolitan Handicap in 2011 with The Verminator.
Newitt has travelled across Victoria many times riding as much as he can since returning to continue his career after shifting back to his native Tasmania for two seasons.
However, Newitt has largely been overlooked for Group 1 opportunities, making the Caulfield Cup ride a vital booking for the winner of more than 2100 races.
“I just keep chipping away, that’s all I can do,” Newitt said.
“You’ve got to ride a winner, have a bit of luck and things turn.
“You’ve got to get into the good races and you’ve got to get wins in the big races to stay under notice.
“I haven’t gone anywhere. It’s not like I haven’t been riding, I just haven’t been getting the opportunities.”
The New Zealand-bred No Compromise is a superior wettracker, posting six of his seven wins on soft and heavy ground while the six-year-old has won four races over the 2400m Caulfield Cup distance.
The weather bureau has forecast up to 65mm of rain for Melbourne between Wednesday and Friday, making a heavy track all but certain.
“The wetter the better for my bloke,” Newitt said of his mount, a $26 chance.