Newitt achieved his first Group 1 victory on Saturday in the prestigious 1200m Flemington straight sprint since Extreme Choice’s 2016 Moir Stakes success at Moonee Valley.
He had won the Newmarket Handicap earlier that year alongside The Quarterback, adding to his 34 Group 1 strikes.
With this win, Newitt now leads all jockeys in Newmarket Handicap triumphs, having earlier ridden Miss Andretti to victory in 2007 and Shamexpress in 2013.
Quickly seizing the front and taking the inside path, $19 elect Caballus resisted $61 longshot Gallant Son by a long head, as Angel Capital ($12) trailed by three-quarters of a length for third.
The rider described being highly emotional about his top-level comeback after such a drought.
“It’s been a while, but I’ve been sitting equal leader on the most amount of Newmarket wins, probably the most historic races in Australia at the moment, apart from the Melbourne Cup, especially for sprinting,” Newitt said.
“To be the most winningest rider, I’m very honoured.
“I was very happy after I’d gone 400, 500 metres. He pricked his ears, he was happy just bowling along at his own leisure.
“I probably opened him up a little bit earlier than what I said to the connections before the race, just so that I could get the buffer on the favourite, because I knew he’d be coming somewhere, but this bloke just held his gallop.
“He was challenged and just kept responding.”
Newitt appreciated Darby Racing handing him the ride when Hugh Bowman couldn’t carry the sprinter’s 55kg on Saturday.
“The fortunes of being a lightweight rider,” Newitt said.
“I was able to pick him up and yeah, (I’m) just very emotional.”
Initially raced by Chris Waller, Caballus was obtained online by Darby Racing and transferred to Bjorn Baker.
Racing manager Luke Hilton for Baker emphasized that gelding the horse was crucial to his rise.
“Bjorn has done an amazing job with him and Darby (Racing) who picked him up as an on-line purchase,” Hilton said.
“He did a good job as a colt, but he wasn’t performing to his level, so we gelded him, gave him time and he’s gone from strength to strength with each preparation.
“The more Bjorn has been able to work with him, the better he’s got and he’s really improved over the last six months and he’s a Group 1 winner now.
“It’s a great achievement by the team.”
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