NEWHART READY TO DELIVER
TASMANIAN Horse of the Year Newhart has the chance to make a statement on the national stage in the Listed $175,000 Weekend Hussler over 1400m at Caulfield on Saturday.
Newhart was voted Tasmania’s best galloper last season after two weight-for-age wins and a second Devonport Cup triumph.
While his first-up effort in the Testa Rossa Stakes at Sandown was passable, he is a winning chance on Saturday.
Newhart spent all last season in the care of Leanne Gaffney, but returned to Barry Campbell when the trained resumed from disqualification. The gelding stayed in Melbourne after the Sandown outing and, according to Campbell, the son of Fighting Sun goes into this assignment in great shape.
“From all reports the horse has done extra well since his run in the Testa Rossa and his work has been spot-on,” he said.
“He worked over 1000m at Pakenham on Tuesday, and he did some nice pace work on Thursday, so I am looking forward to see what he can do on Saturday.”
Connections were aiming for the Toorak Handicap (1600m) on the same program, but after his effort in the Testa Rossa they decided on the softer option.
“You have to be realistic and the Weekend Hussler is still a Listed race and I’m sure he will be competitive,” Campbell said.
“He did a good job at his last start because he got beaten the same distance he was from the leader at the 600m, and they ran home their last 600m in 33 seconds and a bit, and that would have won nine out of 10 races here in Tassie.”
Leading Tasmanian sprinter War Correspondent has the chance to notch his second win in Melbourne in the $175,000 Village Stakes over 1200m at Caulfield.
War Correspondent was a luckless fourth first-up over 955m at Moonee Valley when he was slowly away.
Jockey Damian Thornton said had the horse jumped cleanly he would have won.
War Correspondent’s trainer Glenn Stevenson is quietly confident the gelding can atone.
“He has started to develop a habit of missing the start,” Stevenson said.
“If he jumps with them, he has enough early speed to secure a good spot or even lead, and that would give him every chance to win.”