Heart, grit and history: Newitt’s Newmarket masterpiece

Raised in Tasmania, Newitt was a talented sportsman as a teenager and loved his AFL. In fact, he once played a Saturday morning game of footy before leaving the field at three-quarter time to race to the track for a full book of rides that afternoon. Racing, however, soon became the clear winner. 

His talent showed early. At just 15, he was named Tasmania’s Apprentice of the Year. The following season, he won both the apprentices’ premiership and the overall riding title in the state. The move to mainland racing followed, and Newitt quickly made his mark. 

But his career has also been shaped by moments that tested him away from the racetrack. 

In February 2008, shortly before riding in the Orr Stakes at Caulfield, Newitt was called into the stewards’ room and told by police that his father had been killed in a road accident that morning. He chose to ride anyway, in his father’s memory. Two weeks later, he returned to Flemington for the Australian Guineas and guided Light Fantastic to one of the most emotional Group 1 victories the track has seen. The following year, he won again on Heart Of Dreams, completing back-to-back wins that confirmed his place among the sport’s best performers. 

Over a career spanning more than two decades, Newitt has ridden in ten Melbourne Cups and accumulated more than 30 Group 1 wins.

His ability to ride light and his distinctive left-handed whip action have long made him a valuable option for trainers seeking a strong finisher.  

Like many jockeys, his journey has included setbacks and personal challenges, including time away from the Victorian riding scene. But Newitt rebuilt his career and returned to Melbourne, gradually finding his way back into the big races. 

That long road made Saturday’s Newmarket Handicap victory at Flemington particularly special. 

Partnering the Bjorn Baker-trained Caballus in the 1200m Group 1 sprint, Newitt took the lead down the famous straight and judged the race perfectly before holding off a late challenge to win. 

Not only was it his first Group 1 victory in a decade – his last coming in the Moir Stakes in 2016 – it was also his fourth win in the Newmarket, having previously won on Miss Andretti in 2007, Shamexpress in 2013, and The Quarterback in 2016. 

That fourth victory has made him the most successful rider in the history of the race, surpassing the records of Damien Oliver, Harold Badger, Athol Mulley and Harry White. 

Craig Newitt has always ridden with heart. On Super Saturday 2026 at Flemington, that heart carried him into the record books.