Two three-year-olds who had contrasting fortunes last start will spearhead jockey Craig Newitt’s hopes of a big day at Flemington’s feature winter race meeting.
Newitt’s full book of rides on `Finals Day’ on Saturday are highlighted by A R Creswick Series Final favourite Odyssey Moon and Silver Bowl Series Final favourite Galaxy Raider.
Newitt partnered both three-year-olds at their most recent starts at Flemington last Saturday week, winning an open handicap on Odyssey Moon while Galaxy Raider was an eye-catching fourth in his 1600m race on the same day.
“I think they are my two best rides,” Newitt said.
“I’ll be pretty disappointed if they both got beaten, to be honest.”
Odyssey Moon is clearly the highest-rated horse in the Creswick Series Final and carries 58.5kg under the set weights and penalties conditions.
“Odyssey Moon beat the older horses the other day and he comes back to racing against three-year-olds. And he just gets in so well at the weights,” Newitt said.
Odyssey Moon, a Group One placegetter as a two-year-old, has won his past two starts in Melbourne.
The Greg Eurell-trained Galaxy Raider is at $4 for the Silver Bowl Final (1600m) after flashing home to finish 1-1/2 lengths behind the winner Lady Selkirk at his most recent start.
“Galaxy Raider is knocking on the door and should have nearly won last start,” Newitt said.
“He’s always shown above average ability but he’s just been out of the winner’s stall for a while.
“They’ve had a little bit of trouble getting him to switch off but he probably switched off too well the other day.
“He just had a lot of traffic in front of him in the straight and had no room down the running. He only really got room the last 50 metres and he really let rip late.
“He’s only got to have a trouble-free run and I’m sure he can be right in the money.”
Newitt links with the Mick Price-trained Fast And Free in the Listed Winter Championship Final (1600m) and believes the seven-year-old is in arguably career-best form following his Bendigo win last Thursday.
