Latest news with #Newitt
Herald Sun
18-05-2025
- Sport
- Herald Sun
'Her best is good enough to beat anyone': Newitt eyes Group 1 glory with Pride Of Jenni
Don't miss out on the headlines from Horse Racing. Followed categories will be added to My News. Jockey Craig Newitt has personal and professional motivations to toast Group 1 success on Saturday in the Doomben Cup aboard favourite Pride Of Jenni. Personally, Newitt, one of the hardest working riders in Victoria, is hungry to build on an enviable Group 1 tally while professionally, he wants to get Pride Of Jenni back to where she belongs. Newitt crammed 33 Group 1 wins in a decade from 2006 but has gone without since he partnered boom colt-turned-stallion Extreme Choice to victory in the 2016 Moir Stakes. The 40-year-old father of five has the best chance in a long time to end the drought in Brisbane. • PUNT LIKE A PRO: Become a Racenet iQ member and get expert tips – with fully transparent return on investment statistics – from Racenet's team of professional punters at our Pro Tips section. SUBSCRIBE NOW! 'This is what we do it for,' Newitt said. 'To try and find these sort of horses, she did it at her peak without me riding her but they never lose their ability, she's a little bit older now, but I still firmly believe she can (still) win Group 1 races. 'It's been nearly nine years since my last Group 1, hopefully she can deliver one on Saturday.' Pride Of Jenni is a $3.50 favourite in all-in markets to win the Doomben Cup from Antino ($4), Buckaroo ($6) and Fawkner Park ($8). Newitt has piloted Pride Of Jenni to victory in two of three starts since her comeback in March after being retired last spring following a setback. • Gilbert Gardiner's horses to follow, forgive from Flemington on Saturday His big race experience and craft on leaders like Pride Of Jenni central to the new association. Jockey Declan Bates rode Pride Of Jenni exclusively since she burst onto the scene in the 2023 Melbourne Cup Carnival with successive Group 1 wins in the Empire Rose and Champions Mile. Ben Melham replaced Bates for the Champion Mile last year and pulled up the mare after she bled. Newitt had ridden Pride Of Jenni once previously when they almost pinched the 2023 Group 2 Stocks Stakes won by the fast-finishing short-priced favourite Amelia's Jewel. • Big Bets Review: Classy import Sir Delius burns bookies 'I haven't had the big success on her yet, hopefully that's next Saturday,' Newitt said. Pride Of Jenni won the Group 2 Peter Young Stakes (1800m) but found the two-week back-up into the Group 1 Australian Cup (2000m) beyond her. She returned after a five-week freshen to win the Listed Anniversary Vase (1600m) with 61kg. Newitt will head to Cranbourne on Monday to gallop Pride Of Jenni. 'I'll give her a final gallop Monday morning and she'll be on the plane Tuesday,' Newitt said. 'I worked her last week, she's going well, so full steam ahead. 'We know she's got the ability … it's a matter of getting her there in the right frame of mind and in A-1 condition – if that's right at the start line I'm sure she'll make it an exciting race. 'She's a champion mare in her own right, she's just got to turn up and deliver her best and her best is good enough to beat anyone.' Originally published as 'Her best is good enough to beat anyone': Jockey Craig Newitt eyes Group 1 glory with Pride Of Jenni
News.com.au
03-05-2025
- Sport
- News.com.au
Pride Of Jenni books her ticker for Queensland winter carnival with Anniversary Vase victory
Pride Of Jenni has beaten tougher opposition but the mare still notched a crucial win in Saturday's Listed Anniversary Vase (1600m) at Caulfield. A Brisbane winter carnival trip hinged on Pride Of Jenni showing a semblance of her imperious best in the Anniversary after her last-start flop in the Group 1 Australian Cup in March. Another moderate performance would have prompted questions about the multiple Group 1 winner's future but the Ciaron Maher -trained Pride Of Jenni did what was required despite being short of peak fitness. While enjoying favourable weight terms under the quality conditions of the Anniversary Vase, Pride Of Jenni still needed to give her rivals up to 7kg at her first run for six weeks. Tactics remained the same as jockey Craig Newitt persevered for the lead after early opposition from Regal Zeus before Pride Of Jenni got into her work from the 1200m. Pride Of Jenni carved out strong mid-race sectionals before rounding the home turn with only a two-length break on her rivals. However, that was enough as placegetters Scheelite ($5) and Pounding ($5) could get no closer than 2¼ lengths from the bold frontrunner on the line. SHE'S BACK! ðŸ˜� Pride Of Jenni is back to her best with a win in the Anniversary Vase at Caulfield! Bring on the Doomben Cup. @cmaherracing @craig_newitt â€' 7HorseRacing ðŸ�Ž (@7horseracing) May 3, 2025 Newitt said Pride Of Jenni didn't quicken in the second half of the race but showed little sign of fatigue in the last 200m. 'She never quickened any more but she never weakened. She just kept up her gallop,' Newitt said. 'Her stamina really kicked in. 'I sensed there was something there at the top of the straight so I thought, 'today's the day we'll find out what is there' and, to my surprise, she really kept her gallop through the line.' Newitt said he was more relieved than jubilant about Pride Of Jenni bouncing back to winning ways after the disappointing Australian Cup run. 'She's always fun to ride,' Newitt said. 'The ground was very quick today and she's obviously very effective on wet ground, which she'll get in Brisbane. 'It's just a relief really because we know how good she is on her day.' Owner Tony Ottobre said the Group 1 Doomben Cup would be Pride Of Jenni's next appearance but Maher would determine the rest of her Brisbane winter program. 'She's got a bit more condition than we hoped but obviously she got more (fitness) to come,' Ottobre said. 'She's just a superstar. 'There's more improvement to come, so that's good. 'She's got no niggling issues or anything like that so she's perfect and that's what you see when she's 100 per cent right.'
