Craig Newitt was at his vigorous best as he got Caballus over the line in Saturday's Newmarket - courtesy Racing Photos.

By the time I spoke to Craig Newitt on Sunday morning he’d pushed the elation of a Newmarket win into the background and was on his way to the Stoney Creek Cup meeting for a book of six rides. His Flemington book the day before had been much lighter, but produced the perfect result - two rides for two wins. “Froggy” as he’s universally known in the racing world won the Gr 3 Kiri Ichiban Shaftesbury Avenue on Scheelite for Ken and Kasey Keys, and the Gr 1 Yulong Newmarket on Sydney raider Caballus for Bjorn Baker. On Scheelite he got a much easier lead than expected to literally “steal” the 1400m affair. On Caballus from the inside gate he found the best part of the track and rode a brilliant tactical race in front to grab the big prize for a jubilant Darby Racing syndicate.

In Craig’s mind Saturday’s Gr 1 win for Bjorn Baker and Darby Racing made up for one that got away more than four years ago. “I rode Overpass for the same connections in the 2021 Coolmore Stud Stakes,” recalled the multiple Gr 1 winning jockey. “Back then they were riding Overpass off the pace in his races and asked me to do the same in the Coolmore. We got into terrible traffic down the straight and never really got going until it was all over. He was charging on the line to finish four lengths from Home Affairs. I’ve been hoping ever since I’d get the opportunity to make it up to Bjorn and Darby Racing, and it’s happened at last. Look at the way Overpass races today. He’s a natural front runner.

Craig felt he owed Darby Racing a Gr. 1 win in Melbourne - courtesy Racing Photos.

“I go back a long way with Bjorn. He was co-training with his father Murray in 2009 when I rode Harris Tweed in the Caulfield and Melbourne Cups. He ran a nice race to finish midfield in the Caulfield Cup before starting at big odds in the Melbourne Cup. I went back from an awful draw to be in front of only two or three at the winning post. We didn’t spend a penny until the 700m where Harris Tweed started to come into the race and at the top of the straight he looked a real chance. I thought he might still grab a place at the 100m but he faded late to finish fifth only 4 lengths from Shocking. You wouldn’t believe it, almost seventeen years later I’m winning a Newmarket for the Baker stable.”

From all reports there were differences of opinion about the best part of the track down the straight course on Saturday. From barrier 1 Craig was committed to the inside rail and knew from the outset he was in the right lane. “Caballus was on song from the moment he came into the parade yard,” said Craig. “He didn’t just parade, he fair dinkum strutted around the enclosure. The horse felt very strong going up to the start and showed a bit of attitude behind the barrier. He bounded straight onto the bridle out of the gates and just felt enormous bowling along in front. It may have appeared I kicked a shade early, but I wanted to put some sort of a gap on Tentyris. As it turned out there was no Tentyris and it was left to “roughie” Gallant Son to make a race of it with Caballus. We spotted Gallant Son 3kgs and it was a gutsy win by the Sydney horse.”

Caballus was tenacious in holding off Gallant Son in the Newmarket - It was another great result for the Inglis Online Sale - courtesy Racing Photos.

Craig explained that he was lucky to be on the son of I Am Invincible in the historic sprint. He’d learned that Hugh Bowman had been tentatively booked for Caballus but knew the Hong Kong based jockey would be struggling to make 55kgs. “I knew Hughie would need the Newmarket weights to be raised slightly to be any hope of riding the horse,” said Craig. “When that didn’t happen I got my manager Liam Prior to let Bjorn Baker know I was available with no weight issues. It was Monday night of last week, when I learned I’d be riding the horse in the Newmarket.”

In the euphoric aftermath of the 153rd running of the historic sprint it’s unlikely Craig was aware he’d just carved a special piece of racing history. In winning on Caballus “Froggy” notched a record fourth Newmarket edging past previous joint leaders Harold Badger, Athol Mulley, Harry White and Damien Oliver. The magical moment came a decade after his previous Newmarket win on The Quarterback, and thirteen years after his second success on Shamexpress, the horse now being celebrated as the sire of the incredible sprinter Ka Ying Rising. Newitt opened his Newmarket account in 2007 on the brilliant West Australian mare Miss Andretti who took the young jockey on a fantastic journey.

"Froggy" enjoys a history making occasion. No jockey has ridden more Newmarket winners! - courtesy Racing Photos.

Craig rode the daughter of Ihtiram fifteen times for nine wins including five Gr 1’s beginning with the 2006 Manikato Stakes. In the autumn of 2007 Miss Andretti was virtually unstoppable. She won the Lightning first up, then the Australia Stakes before defeating the talented Queensland filly Gold Edition in the Newmarket which was run that year at Caulfield. Less than three months later Miss Andretti went “fresh up” into the King’s Stand Stakes (then a Gr 2) at Royal Ascot with 22 year old Craig Newitt enjoying every moment of the experience. There were twenty runners down the undulating straight 5 Fls course, and according to Craig the brilliant mare was never going to get beaten. Trainer Lee Freedman opted to back her up four days later in the Golden Jubilee Stakes but a rain affected track dimmed her brilliance and she finished some ten lengths from the winner Soldier’s Tale. For the record Takeover Target was second.

Newitt is obviously very chuffed about his newly minted Newmarket riding record but insists it should be even better. He’d won the Rubiton Stakes and the Oakleigh Plate on Lankan Rupee leading into the 2014 Newmarket but was also the regular rider of the talented Samaready. “I’d won six races on this lovely filly before the autumn of 2014 and that included a Blue Diamond and a Moir Stakes,” recalled the jockey. “In the weeks before the Newmarket she ran a good race in the Manikato followed by a cracking third to Snitzerland and Shamexpress in the Gr 1 Lightning. She looked right on target for the Newmarket. I went with Samaready, Chad Schofield rode Lankan Rupee and the rest is history. I actually trailed Lankan Rupee all the way and I was very confident coming to the clock tower. Samaready just didn’t let down on the day. Maybe, just maybe I should have won five Newmarkets.”

One of Newitt's 5 Gr. 1 wins on the brilliant Lankan Rupee - the 2014 TJ Smith at Randwick - courtesy Steve Hart Photographics.

Craig’s distinguished riding career began in his native Tasmania where he was initially apprenticed to his father Guy and later to Leon Wells at Devonport. Young Newitt’s first trip to the winner’s circle came at Elwick in Hobart on November 25th, 2000, when he won a Maiden Plate on the John Luttrell trained Kimbra’s Way. Twenty five years on and referring to the respected Racing and Sports data base, “Froggy” Newitt is currently sitting on a most impressive 2487 wins with a black type CV to be proud of. His win on Caballus took him to 34 Gr 1’s, 26 Gr 2’s, 44 Gr 3’s and another 88 at listed level. He attributes much of his success to the luxury of being a natural lightweight. He’s one of the lucky few who have little need for the dreaded sweat box and is able to go to work at full strength most days. “I can ride 54kg any day of the week, and if the right ride comes along 52 kg is a realistic possibility,” said Craig.

Craig won 2 Gr. 1s on his all time favourite Pompeii Ruler. Here's Pompeii Ruler defeating Metal Bender and Sarrera in the 2009 Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Randwick - courtesy Steve Hart Photographics..

Now approaching his 41st birthday Craig Newitt is enjoying his job as much as ever but realises he has to keep his nose to the grindstone. “The competition in Melbourne is fierce,” he said. “We have a glut of jockeys and most have very good managers. You can’t rest on your laurels if you’re going to maintain a decent livelihood. If I wasn’t prepared to travel, I’d be getting four or five rides a week and that’s not enough when you’ve got a big family to look after. Because I cover a wide range of tracks, I’m ticking up a big number of rides every week.”

Things move at a hectic pace in the Hewitt household in Melbourne where Craig and his wife Bree are raising five sons. The elder quartet are Noah (16), Chase (15), Casey (13) and Reign (8) from the jockey’s first marriage while he and Bree have Arlo who’s just three. Saturday’s Newmarket triumph will be a timely reminder to Victorian owners and trainers that Craig Newitt hasn’t ridden 34 Gr 1 winners by accident. He can make a weight undreamed of by the majority of leading riders while retaining full strength. His unflappable nature shows in his riding, but when the chips are down in a busy finish few riders are busier. “Complete professional package” is a term commonly used these days to describe the individual who ticks every box in his or her chosen field. That’s Craig Newitt to a tee.

“FROGGY” FLIES DOWN THE FLEMINGTON STRAIGHT TO MAKE NEWMARKET HISTORY

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