Craig Newitt was pleasantly surprised to be able to pick up the ride on Lord Of The Sky in the Group Three Bletchingly Stakes and is confident he’s on the horse to beat.
Damien Oliver has been Lord Of The Sky’s jockey in recent starts but he has opted to ride the David Hayes and Tom Dabernig-trained Sandown Guineas winner Petrology who is first-up in Saturday’s weight-for-age sprint at Caulfield.
A suspension to Noel Callow on Tuesday ruled him out of contention for the ride on Lord Of The Sky.
Newitt was more than happy to get the call up.
“He’s the class animal of the field and I only picked up the ride late on Tuesday night and I was pleasantly surprised,” Newitt said.
“I knew on Tuesday morning that Damien wasn’t riding him so I sent Robbie Laing a message to see whether he had a rider or not. He got back to me last night saying I could ride him.
“It’s a good pick up.”
Lord Of The Sky was runner-up in two Group Ones earlier this year in the TJ Smith Stakes in Sydney and The Goodwood in Adelaide.
The four-year-old failed to fire last start in the Sir John Monash Stakes (1100m) finishing seventh as favourite after not being the best away which prevented him from taking up his usual on-speed role.
Newitt is hoping the sprinter begins well on Saturday in the 1200m race to give himself every chance.
If he does, Newitt expects Lord Of The Sky’s class to take him a long way.
“Robbie has always had a big opinion of him but it wasn’t until late in his last preparation that he started to show that, mixing it with some of the best sprinters around,” Newitt said.
“He’s only got to take that form to the races on Saturday and he would be too good, I would think.”
Newitt has not ridden Lord Of The Sky before.
Lord Of The Sky is the early favourite and will be striving for his first win in just over 12 months.
The late-season feature has attracted a field of 11 which includes Group One winner Smokin’ Joey who was a late nomination.
Smokin’ Joey won the Listed Eye Liner Stakes in Queensland in June before a let-up.
