If Craig Newitt can claim his maiden metropolitan jockeys' title, the $70,000 Bib Stillwell Handicap is a race he will pay plenty of credit to.He partnered the Mick Price-trained Min River, a $31 outsider, to an unexpected win when she staged a form turnaround to snare the 2200-metre event at Caulfield.It was significant as the horse that Min River denied was $1.65 favourite Genuine Spin, who was the most heavily-fancied ride of the day for Newitt's key premiership rival Luke Nolen."It was
If Craig Newitt can claim his maiden metropolitan jockeys' title, the $70,000 Bib Stillwell Handicap is a race he will pay plenty of credit to.
He partnered the Mick Price-trained Min River, a $31 outsider, to an unexpected win when she staged a form turnaround to snare the 2200-metre event at Caulfield.
It was significant as the horse that Min River denied was $1.65 favourite Genuine Spin, who was the most heavily-fancied ride of the day for Newitt's key premiership rival Luke Nolen.
"It was (a bonus)," Newitt said. "I thought he might have pinched one back there."
Min River's win completed a running double for Newitt, who earlier won The Inglis Bonus Handicap aboard the Jason Warren-trained Proper Madam.
Not to be denied, however, Nolen later won two of the final four races of the day to square the premiership ledger on 67 wins apiece with six metro meeting remaining before the season concludes on 31 July.
Had the placings been reversed in the Bib Stillwell Handicap, however, Nolen would have ended the day with a two-win buffer.
While a powerful finish was the hallmark of Proper Madam's victory, a brilliant on-pace effort from Newitt was the key to Min River's success.
After leading early, Newitt handed up to Elldami at the 1200m before reclaiming the lead at the 600m and heading for home. Newitt and Min River turned two lengths clear of Genuine Spin, who made little inroads into the margin in the run to the line.
Min River, a daughter of Flying Spur, scored by 1-3/4 lengths from Genuine Spin with the runner-up's stablemate Catalina Sounds a further 3-1/2 lengths away third.
"I had her right up underneath me most of the race and I knew we'd gone slow, so I got to the 600 and just thought I'd be brave and see if I could nick off on them and to my surprise she kept running," Newitt said.
With the premiership slipping away, Nolen stepped things up a cog with a couple of narrow wins in the second half of the card.
His first win came when he partnered the Mick Kent-trained Serene Star to a head victory over Spurcific in the $70,000 Programmed Property Handicap (1100m).
After a second aboard the Tony McEvoy-trained Harmonic in the day's penultimate event, Nolen got stablemate Prince Of Capers home by a short-half-head in the $70,000 Sportingbet Handicap (1400m) that rounded out the card.
The leading duo weren't the only riders to celebrate multiple success on the Caulfield card with top apprentice jockey Damian Lane also partnering a winning double, including victory in the day's feature - the Sir John Monash Stakes - aboard Platelet. (www.racingvictoria.net.au)