Newitt’s dash to watch Leap To Fame

By Jordan Gerrans

Leap To Fame tragic Craig Newitt is considering a mad dash across Brisbane on Saturday evening to watch the Inter Dominion Grand Final in person at Albion Park. 

Usually based in Melbourne, the multiple Group 1-winning hoop is in the Sunshine State for a big book of rides at Doomben on Saturday before heading to close mate Bobby El-Issa’s 50^th birthday bash. 

It has been a busy week for Newitt as he partnered the Queensland-prepared Cosmic Fire in the Listed Ramornie Handicap at Grafton on Wednesday afternoon. 

The top jockey is a vocal supporter of the champion standardbred, Leap To Fame, on social media and believes he can defy the betting drift to claim a third Grand Final crown. 

“I enjoy watching him, I think my wife thinks I'm mad when I watch him race, but I just can't get over it,” Newitt said of his LTF fandom. 

“I've been around the game a long time now and I don't think I've seen a thoroughbred or a standardbred as tough as what he is.

“He just does it; he makes the impossible possible.

“When he draws a good gate, it's basically game, set and match. But, when he draws like he has on Saturday, even if he gets beat, the runs that he puts in, it's mind-blowing.

“A good horse would still get beaten 30 or 40 metres and he's still there.

“He's still there getting beat a metre in the best races going around with the runs that he has.”

Sunshine Coast conditioner Billy Healey prepares Cosmic Fire and he was all too happy to book Newitt for the Ramornie.

While it was somewhat of a left-field jockey selection, with Cosmic Fire having some Victorian-based connections, it was a perfect match.

“A lot of the owners live in Melbourne and are friends with Craig,” Healey said.

“We were really pleased to pick up 'Froggy' from Melbourne 

"He is a big-race rider with a light weight.”

Following Wednesday’s Grafton meeting, Newitt was on the plane to Melbourne to ride at Cranbourne on Thursday before heading back north for a big book of rides on Saturday at Doomben. 

He appears to have a number of strong winning chances on Saturday with rides for leading barns such as Robert Heathcote, Matthew Dunn and Stuart Kendrick, among others.

With fellow hoop El-Issa set to celebrate his milestone birthday on the Saturday evening, Newitt is keen to sneak across town from the party to get to Albion Park to watch the ‘Leap To Fame show’ on the big stage.

“So, we might duck out for half an hour and watch him go around, we'll just see how we go,” he said.

The 41-year-old Newitt regards himself as a racing tragic, across all codes, and continues to be fascinated by the deeds of Grant Dixon’s superstar.

“I have gone to Melton a few times to watch him race,” he said.

“Horses just shouldn't be able to do what he does, even his recent Miracle Mile win.

“It was unbelievable, he was flat out for 1,600 metres. He mesmerises me. He's unbelievable. He makes the impossible, possible.”

Following Monday’s barrier draw, star mare Captains Mistress is now challenging defending champion Leap To Fame for favouritism in Saturday night's $1 million Inter Dominion decider at Albion Park.

The local favourite, Leap To Fame, drew gate 11 on the back row, while Captains Mistress will likely work to the lead from barrier six.

Leap To Fame eased significantly from $1.50 to $2.20 following the barrier draw.

As of Wednesday afternoon, Leap To Fame is $2.25 with the bookmakers with Captains Mistress judged as a $2.30 hope.

Newitt, who counts himself as one of LTF’s biggest fans, can see the Queensland stallion recording another ID victory on Saturday evening to further enhance his legacy.

“You write him off at your own peril,” he said.

"With the odds drift after the barrier draw, if it was any other horse, you would say he can't win.

"But, you just know what this horse is capable of and what he will do.

“I just think it'll make the race on Saturday probably his greatest achievement ever.”

Meanwhile, El-Issa is on the comeback trail. 

He has not competed in a race since October of 2021, but rode in trials at the Gold Coast on Tuesday.