Craig Newitt received a warm reception from the small Sandown crowd when he returned to scale on his first winner, the Mick Price-trained Das Machen, since his father Guy died in a car accident on Saturday.Newitt, who rode the Price-trained Light Fantastic into second place in the Futurity Stakes at Caulfield last Saturday despite having just received the tragic news, was riding for the first time since on Wednesday.He later made it a winning double when bringing Ya Still Wonder ($4) with a well

Craig Newitt received a warm reception from the small Sandown crowd when he returned to scale on his first winner, the Mick Price-trained Das Machen, since his father Guy died in a car accident on Saturday.

Newitt, who rode the Price-trained Light Fantastic into second place in the Futurity Stakes at Caulfield last Saturday despite having just received the tragic news, was riding for the first time since on Wednesday.

He later made it a winning double when bringing Ya Still Wonder ($4) with a well-timed run to win the Marvel Loch Hcp (1600m) for Mornington trainer Steve Roberts.

"There was no greater test than Saturday and he came through that with flying colours, so he'll be back better than ever," Price said after Newitt landed Flying Spur filly Das Machen ($2.70 fav) a three-length winner over Done And Dusted.

Guy Newitt's funeral is expected to be held at Mowbray racecourse in Launceston next Tuesday.

Newitt said the support from his girlfriend and his family had helped console him over the last few days.

"This is what he loved me doing. He'd be hanging over the fence if he was here today, but he's not so we've just got to keep soldiering on. Life goes on," Newitt said.

"I've had a couple of rough days and it's just good to get a winner.

"She got into a lovely spot, relaxed and just cantered up to them easily."

Meanwhile, even though Azwa beat only three rivals when she made a winning debut at Sandown, leading trainer David Hayes believes she will go on to prove her worth next season as a three-year-old.

The two-year-old filly, raced by Sheikh Hamdan's Shadwell Stud Australasia Ltd, is by shuttle stallion Haafhd who won the 2004 English Two Thousand Guineas (1609m) and Champion Stakes (2012m), both at Group One level at Newmarket.

Her dam Mihnah, by Lahib, won two races at 1200m and 1600m.

"Angus Gold, the Shadwell manager in England, says that he was a Group One winning two-year-old who got a mile (1600m) and that's what we're hoping this filly will do," Hayes said of Azwa.

Azwa ($3.50), ridden by Craig Williams, sat off race leader San Cristobel ($1.85 fav) and wore her down in the straight to score by a long neck.

"She will be placed to go through her classes and make a three-year-old," Hayes said.

"The thing I like about her is she has great presence and length.

"The horses behind the first two had no chance because they went even time and sprinted home but good form will come out of the race I think."