Newlook from France earned his breakthrough Australian victory with an impressive staying surge, landing the Group 2 $300,000 Chairman’s Quality (2600m) at Royal Randwick over the weekend.
Handled by Trent Busuttin and Natalie Young, Newlook entered winless from five down-under attempts previously, though the soft conditions enabled a decisive score.
Now, Newlook’s form lines him strongly for the Group 1 $2 million Sydney Cup (3200m) at Randwick next Saturday.
Securing the Chairman’s Quality grants Newlook Sydney Cup entry without ballot or penalty hurdles, perfectly weighted at 50kg.
Rachel King guided the $8.50 Newlook to a bold finish in the straight’s middle, home by 1¼ lengths on Campaldino ($7) who repelled Juja Kibo ($3.70 equal favourite) by matching distance, with Travolta ($3.70 equal favourite) fourth and threatening. King gained belief from his closing fifth next-last in the Manion Cup.
"I was confident he would take good improvement from his last start, he was only second up there,” King said.
"He still probably blew out at the 50m, I thought I was going to win easy at the furlong but he just got a little bit tired.’
"But he’ll take good improvement again, I galloped him during the week and was confident he would run well over this distance."
Newlook eyes history as potential 10th Chairman’s Quality-Sydney Cup winner, trailing Circle Of Fire (2024), The Offer (2014), Jessicabeel (2010), No Wine No Song (2008), Henderson Bay (2002), Linesman (1997), King Aussie (1990), Major Drive (1987) and Marooned (1986).
Campaldino, June’s Brisbane Cup hero, flashed Sydney Cup potential in his gritty second to Newlook.
Crucially, the runner-up eases in weight to 52.5kg from 59kg for next Saturday’s Randwick staying test.
Tim Clark marvelled at Campaldino’s recent Sydney Cup trial.
"He bounced back to form today,” Clark said."Then next Saturday with a few kilos less he is going to be hard to beat."
Ciaron Maher’s Juja Kibo under Craig Williams performed solidly with the 2026 Sydney Cup looming.
"He has run really well again and ahead of his ‘Grand Final’ next week,” Williams said. "It is all part of Ciaron’s preparation with today’s run into the Cup in seven days.’"
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