Jockey Craig Newitt will not lose sleep over the likelihood of another wet track for the second day of The Championships.
The heavy track for the inaugural meeting of the Randwick showpiece was no hindrance to star sprinter Lankan Rupee who Newitt piloted to a comprehensive win the Group One TJ Smith Stakes (1200m).
Showers are forecast for Sydney until the weather improves on Friday and Newitt is convinced he will ride on soft ground which suits his mount My Kingdom Of Fife in the $4 million Queen Elizabeth Stakes.
“It’s a heavy nine at the moment and they reckon it won’t be any better than slow,” Newitt said.
My Kingdom Of Fife won the Queen Elizabeth on a heavy track in 2011 before injuries kept him away from the races for more than two years.
The nine-year-old has been well-beaten in three runs back but Newitt says the gelding now has the required fitness to trouble the favourites in the Group One event.
My Kingdom Of Fife was formerly owned by the Queen and the gelding must overcome one of the monarch’s current stable, Carlton House, if he is to score his second win in the race named after her.
He is one of five scheduled runners for trainer Chris Waller, four of which will back up from Saturday’s Doncaster Mile.
My Kingdom Of Fife ran midfield in the Doncaster won by the Waller-trained Sacred Falls from stablemates Royal Descent, Weary and Hawkspur.
Waller doesn’t believe Weary is ready for weight-for-age company yet so he will not run while Boban, scratched from the Doncaster because of the wet track, is his other intended starter.
Newitt will ride the Waller-trained Brigantin in the Sydney Cup and the Guy Walter-trained Missvonn in the ATC Oaks as well as Oakleigh Girl in the $500,000 Royal Randwick Stakes.
The final field for Sydney’s richest race will be declared on Tuesday.
