Grafton preview: Trainer Matthew Dunn lauds apprentice Jett Newman as career begins in style

Apprentice jockey Jett Newman made a fairytale start to her career on Sunday and her boss Matthew Dunn has given her two more great chances at Grafton on Tuesday.

Trainer Matthew Dunn has labelled his new apprentice Jett Newman a “star”. Picture: Richard Gosling

If Jett Newman is half as good a jockey as her father was, she’ll be the Champion Apprentice in Sydney.

Newman, 17, is the daughter of Mitch Newman who was crowned leading Apprentice in Sydney twice, on either side of Hugh Bowman, in the 1998/99 and 2000/1 seasons.

Mitch Newman was trackside at Murwillumbah on Sunday together with Jett’s mother Debbie Greaves, to share in what was truly a fairytale beginning to a potentially grand career.

Two rides, one second, one win, both for her boss and ardent admirer, Matthew Dunn.

“I think she is going to make a really good jockey,’’ Dunn said.

“What she is doing now is quite incredible for the experience she’s had.

“Even in interviews and post-race stuff for owners and that sort of thing, she is going really, really well.

“Not many jockeys win on their first day of riding.

“And things didn’t pan the way we thought they would. She was taking on the $1.10 shot.

“She did a very good job and she was very professional after it. She was excited of course, as you would be.

“I think she’s a star, I really do. She’s got to keep improving of course but I think she’s got the right attitude. She is very focused, she is a very good worker and she’s really, really light.”

Jett Newman produces a beautiful ride on Without Parallel who beats the odds on favourite! 💪@mattydunnracingpic.twitter.com/Bppd5BjIP2

— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) February 2, 2025

For all her skill and potential, Jett herself acknowledges the headstart in life given both her parents are jockeys/riders not to mention being placed with one of the most prolific and astute trainers in the country.

“Dad gives me a lot of help and tips and it’s really good to have someone who has done it before and knows,’’ Newman said.

“I was in Sydney before this with a small trainer and they were great to start off learning but coming up here is probably the best decision I have made.

“To someone like (Matthew Dunn) that has a big stable to support me and he’s been great so I am really happy.’’

Dunn has served up Newman another two golden opportunities to add to her tally at Grafton Tuesday.

The master and apprentice combine in consecutive races via the track specialist Guru Class and the lightly-raced Foo Fighter.

Newman has the honour of leading out an impressive array of colleagues in the apprentice only Heat Of The Rising Star aboard Dunn’s Snitzel granddaughter Guru Class.

“Guru Class will be a good ride for her,’’ Dunn said.

“She’s got speed and will put herself into the race and will run very well.’’

Guru Class has only managed to win two of her 23 starts but significantly, both were at Grafton.

Three-year-old stablemate Foo Fighter is yet to win one of his five attempts but is yet to run a bad race in any of them.

“Foo Fighter ran well last start,’’ Dunn said.

“He got himself to the front a bit early in the straight and couldn’t quite go on with it but that’s understandable.

“He’s a bit of a free-running sort of a horse so again, he is another good ride for Jett.

“I tried to pick out the best ones for her to ride early and I think we’ve probably achieved that.’’

Foo Fighter ought soon to be “racing for free”.

The Raheen Stud-bred son of Heroic Valour was secured for only $22,000 at the 2023 Gold Coast March Yearling Sale.

And while he was born and raised in Queensland, Foo Fighter is from one of Western Australia’s greatest families.

His fourth dam is Robert Holmes A’Court’s 1988 Group 1 WATC Karrakatta Plate winner Hold That Smile.

Ensby has Oaks plans for Whiskey

Classically bred filly Whiskey Miss will be given her chance to win an Oaks with her buyer, owner and trainer Ethan Ensby only too glad to pay up for all the big races ahead.

The Grafton-bound three-year-old sent out all the signs that any potential Oaks filly should, when a closing fifth on debut at Ballina over 1300m on January 17.

On Tuesday, she steps out on to a bigger track with an extra furlong added when she contests the Causley Wholesale Maiden Plate (1560m).

“We have got a big opinion of this filly,’’ Ensby said.

“We obviously paid a bit of money for her at Karaka and she’s bred to do some pretty nice things.

“We’ve kept her back a little bit just to give her the time that she needed.

“She is still developing and she is still quite immature but she is doing everything at the moment on raw ability.

“Given even luck, I think she can win there on Tuesday.

“She will want further but she will appreciate that big track.’’

Whiskey Lass was born and raised at one of New Zealand’s most famous, historic and successful nurseries, namely Haunui Farm.

Past alumni include the likes of Melody Belle, Surfer’s Paradise, NZ Derby winner The Gentry and Railway Stakes winner, Coogee Walk.

Whiskey Lass’s classic credentials begin with the fact that she is in-bred to Zabeel.

Furthermore, her “aunt” is the 2017 ATC Oaks winner Bonneval while another close family member, St Reims won the 2002 NZ Derby.

“If her class shine through (today) she can win that race,’’ Ensby said.

“She is a very nice filly on the up and I don’t want her to be a bush maidener for too long.

“If we’re going to aim at some targets with her that we think we can, she needs to be knocking off that maiden in the bush pretty quickly.”

Ensby will wait until race day to decide on whether stablemates Rainbow Lass and Cheap Wine fulfil their respective engagements but is confident both will run well if their make the 200km round-trip from Casino.

Ensby, meanwhile, is in the midst of drawing up future plans for his outstanding sprinter Maximum Vortex who won his seventh race at start 18 in the most incredible circumstances at Doomben on Saturday.

“He’s been out in the day yards all morning and bucking his brand off,’’ Ensby said.

Originally published as Grafton preview: Trainer Matthew Dunn lauds apprentice Jett Newman as career begins in style