Jockey Craig Newitt is chasing his fourth Christmas Stakes win and an historic second victory on the Robbie Griffiths-trained Cocinero.Newitt has dominated the Listed event in recent years with wins on Bulbasaur in 2003 and Murray Downs in 2005 before Cocinero's victory last year.TAB Sportsbet has Cocinero at $14 to become the first dual Christmas Stakes winner since it became a stakes race 30 years ago, but Griffiths is optimistic about an upset on Friday."I think he is as good a chance as any

Jockey Craig Newitt is chasing his fourth Christmas Stakes win and an historic second victory on the Robbie Griffiths-trained Cocinero.

Newitt has dominated the Listed event in recent years with wins on Bulbasaur in 2003 and Murray Downs in 2005 before Cocinero's victory last year.

TAB Sportsbet has Cocinero at $14 to become the first dual Christmas Stakes winner since it became a stakes race 30 years ago, but Griffiths is optimistic about an upset on Friday.

"I think he is as good a chance as any other in the race," Griffiths said.

Cocinero hasn't won a race since last year's Christmas Stakes but he has had only had 10 runs in that time and all but one were stakes races, including three at Group One level and two at Group Two.

A winner of seven of his 38 starts and $520,000 in stakes, the son of Encosta De Lago seems to reserve his best for the 1200 metres at Caulfield.

He is a dual winner at the track and in March he finished second to Bel Mer in the Listed JRA Stakes (1200m) while he kicked off his current campaign with a half-length third to Jeuneyman and In the Shadows in the Mitty's Cup (1200m).

Griffiths said Cocinero was still a capable sprinter and was not disgraced last start when sixth to Captain Bax in the Listed Heffernan Stakes (1300m) at Sandown.

He said wide gates had hindered the gelding's campaign with him drawing the outside or second outside barrier at his last three runs.

He has again drawn wide in barrier 13 on Friday but he has a half kilogram less than the 57kg he carried to victory from gate four a year ago.

"His latest runs really haven't been bad but it is hard to overcome all the difficulty of being drawn off the track," Griffiths said.

"Apart from the draw he has got the right credentials to win again."

Last year Cocinero won the Christmas Stakes with 32 days between runs but this year the race will be his first for 41 days.

"We don't over-race him and he does race well fresh," Griffiths said.

"The benefit of him not winning has been getting into this year's race with a half kilo less than last year.

"He has had a similar campaign to last year and he seems to be going as well in his training.

"If Craig can put him in nice position I am sure he will be in the mix."