Fans of the favourite Newhart held their collective breath as Craig Newitt found a narrow seam coming around the turn in Wednesday’s $100,000 Listed Mowbray Stakes (1600m) at Launceston, but it was an easy watch from there on.
The Leanne Gaffney-trained son of Fighting Sun made it three wins on the trot in defeating Mandela Effect (Turffontein) by a length with a nose back to Swoop Dog (Husson) in third.
After winning the Devonport Cup (1880m), back in January, Newhart was expected to follow a traditional Cups path. However, Newitt suggested to part-owner Denise Martin the chestnut gelding be kept to shorter trips.
Newhart was coming off a near-4-length romp in the Listed Thomas Lyons Stakes (1500m) at Hobart.
He’s a really talented horse. It was a beautiful ride,” Martin said.
“Craig did not think he could run a strong 2000m and it was his idea to take him through a Weight-For-Age preparation. I was not sure at the time if that was the right move, but clearly it was.
“Leanne Gaffney and the team have done a great job with him. And a big thank you to Paull Willets, who found him for me in Adelaide.
“I’m not sure where we go next, but clearly he has more to give.”
Newhart advanced his record to eight wins and five seconds from 15 starts with earnings of $316,400.
Purchased by Star Thoroughbreds/Paul Willetts Bloodstock for $60,000 out of the Fairways Bloodstock draft at the 2017 Magic Millions Adelaide Yearling Sale, Newhart is a half-brother to the stakes-placed Derasa (Squamosa).
They are the only two to race out of the Commands mare Jesting, purchased for just $3,000 at the 2013 Inglis August Thoroughbred Sale.
From the family of Fantastic Light (IRE) and Your Song, Jesting has a 2yo gelding by Squamosa named Snappy Jim.
After foaling a Pride Of Dubai last spring, Jesting was bred back to Coolmore Stud’s champion first-season sire.
