Derby Day tips 2015: Live racing updates, tips and results from Victoria Derby Day at Flemington
TAB BIG BETS: CRAIG Newitt had not ridden a winner in 50 races but he was intent on making his 51st count.
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CRAIG Newitt had not ridden a winner in 50 races but he was intent on making his 51st count.
He took one ride at Flemington on Saturday to defuse the pressure of outside distractions, and then landed that elusive win when it mattered most: on favourite Tarzino in the VRC Derby.
Newitt stood high in the irons and punched the air as he returned victorious to the mounting yard and then went straight to the people who mattered most: his family.
He hugged his wife, Karli, and three blonde boys — Noah, Chase and Casey.
Then he took a moment to remember his late father and regular racetrack companion, Guy.
“I get pretty emotional because, obviously, it’s sad that the old man can’t be here,” Newitt said.
“I mean, he lived for good horses and I think we’ve finally found a horse we might be able to win a Cup with.”
Newitt’s father died in a Mornington car accident in March 2009, the morning of the Futurity Stakes.
Newitt famously took the ride on Light Fantastic in the Group 1 race that afternoon and was narrowly beaten on the line by Niconero.
There was no such bad luck at Flemington. Tarzino won by two lengths from Etymology, with Kia Ora Koutou panels back in third.
Newitt knew his one-ride strategy had paid dividends well before the race was over.
“He had just switched completely off and given me a beautiful ride,” he said.
“I could have hit the front anywhere from the half mile, I just had a lapful of horse. He’s a very, very good stayer.”
Newitt’s wife, Karli, said the recent run of outs had been playing on her husband’s mind, but they envisioned that on Derby Day “all would go well”. It had to.
“Craig asked us to come here today, so it was very special,” she said.
“This spring, this win means everything ... Craig had one big ride going into the spring that we knew about.
“He kept today free just for Tarzino, and that’s probably our spring right there.”
Newitt said his wife had been the one to keep him “level headed”.
“I tried not to talk him up too much, and then I sort of get into a frame – like, I only took the one ride today because I was that confident he would come here and win,” he said.
“I just didn’t want anything to distract me. With the amount of suspensions that have been going around, I could not afford to not be on him.”
Newitt is tipping that in one year’s time Tarzino will be a Melbourne Cup horse, but until then there’s his family.
“They mean everything — after the race the boys will go out for a drink, they will go out and party. Mate, I just want to go home to my family.
“We’ve had a good day and we can go home winners.”
RELIVE OUR COVERAGE OF DERBY DAY IN THE WINDOW BELOW
THE FLEMINGTON CARD
Race 1: G3 Carbine Club Stakes (1600m) 11.45am
Race 2: G2 Wakeful Stakes (2000m) 12.20pm
Race 3: G3 Guvera Stakes (1400m) 1pm
Race 4: G1 COOLMORE STUD STAKES (1200m) 1.40pm
Race 5: G3 Lexus Stakes (2500m) 2.25pm
Race 6: G1 MACKINNON STAKES (2000m) 3.05pm
Race 7: G1 VICTORIA DERBY (2500m) 3.50pm
Race 8: G1 MYER CLASSIC (1600m) 4.35pm
Race 9: G2 tab.com.au Stakes (1200m) 5.20pm
TAB BIG BETS
RACE ONE
Basset and Montauk were the two key players for TAB customers.
Basset opened at $2.80 and got out to $3.40 while Montauk was the best move on Saturday morning, firming from $4.40-$4 before jumping at $4.20.
Mahuta was tried earlier in the week ($7.50-$5.50-$6.50).
BETS: Basset $10,000 @ $3; Montauk $5,000 @ $4
RACE TWO
My Poppette ($4.60-$4.20) was easily the best tried runner in the lead up to the race. As much as $6.50 was offered throughout the week but after leading she compounded.
Ambience was the best backed to beat the favourite but did drift from $3.70 to $4.20.
Dawnie Perfect attracted good support despite getting out from its $5 quote to start at $6.50.
Between those three horses they commanded 76 percent of the total investment.
Of the others, there was a move earlier in the week for Princess Aria ($26-$15) but she would eventually start at her opening price.
BETS: My Poppette $6000 e/w @ $4/$1.70
RACE THREE
Disposition ($3.40-$2.90) was smashed in betting and proved to be a horror result for TAB.
Earlier on Saturday morning when the rain arrived, there was a move for Mr Utopia ($11-$6.50), however, when the rain disappeared so did the money and it blew back out to $11.
Charmed Harmony was $11 into $8 while the move for Artlee, which saw it firm from $10 earlier in the week to $4.60 on Saturday morning, lost steam and eventually saw the horse jump at $7.50.
RACE FOUR
Exosphere ($1.40-$1.60) proved to be extremely costly for punters.
Counterattack ($21-$11) was one of the better tried runners to beat the favourite, as was keen Array ($11-$13) despite getting out a little.
Japonisme ($19-$26-$21) was nibbled at the price while Super One was $21 into $17 before getting back out to $21.
BETS: Exosphere $100,000 @ $1.60, $50,000 @ $1.60
RACE FIVE
Excess Knowledge was the money horse in this one. Punters spoke on Friday by backing it from $5.50-$4.80 but on Saturday morning it was crunched into $4.
By far and away the best supported runner in the race, Excess Knowledge held 35 percent of the total investment.
Bohemian Lily ($11-$8) was one of the better tried to win the race.
Ruling Dynasty ($7-$5.50-$9) was backed earlier in the week but didn’t have many admirers on Saturday.
Zanteca hovered around the $14-$15 mark for most of the afternoon.
BETS: Excess Knowledge $5000 @ $4, $3000 @ $4 (TWICE); Bohemian Lily $6500 @ $9
RACE SIX
Money spoke in this race with Gailo Chop a significant mover throughout the week.
As much as $16 was given throughout the week but on Saturday it was $11-$8 and landed some very good bets.
Contributer ($5.50-$8) and Stratum Star ($5) were the two most popular runners in terms of money taken while there was a nibble for Rising Romance ($19-$16) and Happy Trails ($10-$7-$6).
BETS:Stratum Star $4,000 e/w @ $5.50/$2.12; Gailo Chop $2,000 @ $10
RACE SEVEN
Tarzino drifted from the moment the barrier draw was conducted earlier in the week.
He was $2.20 at that point and blew out to as much as $3.20. Punters didn’t want to touch him until he reached $2.80 which is when the real money came.
Lizard Island ($13-$8) was a significant mover in betting while Get The Picture ($11-$9) had some backing.
Kia Ora Koutou ($9.50-$6.50) had plenty of backing and was best tried to beat the favourite.
BETS:Tarzino $10,000 @ $3.10, $10,000 @ $2.90; Kia Ora Koutou $10,000 @ $7.50; Lizard Island $4,000 @ $8.50
RACE EIGHT
Punters only wanted to be on Royal Descent in this one especially after it rained at Flemington earlier in the day.
Backed in from $4.80-$3.50, it was easily one of the best backed runners on the program.
Stay With Me, after opening at $5.50 and bottoming out at $4.40, drifted alarmingly out to $6.
Politeness was backed at the each-way price ($15-$19). Miss Rose De Lago ($13-$10) was one of the better moves in the race while Azkadellia, although one of the more popular runners, went from $8.50-$11.
BETS: Royal Descent $10,000 @ $1.75 place, $5000 @ $4
RACE NINE
Delectation held approximately 33 percent of the total investment and was heavily supported late in betting.
Under The Louvre bottomed out at $3.70 and started at $4.40 and was best backed to beat the favourite, while Dothraki was popular with TAB customers and firmed from $9-$7.50.
Fontelina ($21-$13) had some support at the eachway price.
BETS: Delectation $7,500 @ $4, $4000 @ $4.40 x3; Under The Louvre $10,000 @ $1.77 place
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