Craig Newitt recorded feature race success on Tarzino in the Victoria Derby yesterday and he is hopeful that he can continue his winning run with Sertorius in the 2015 Melbourne Cup at Flemington on Tuesday.
Sertorius is the extreme outsider in 2015 Melbourne Cup betting markets. Photo by: Adrienne Bicknell
Sertorius was set for the Melbourne Cup at the start of his 2015 Spring Racing Carnival campaign with a credible tenth place finish in the Group 1 Memsie Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield on August 29, but he had a setback following a poor scope and he was ruled out of the Group 3 Naturalism Stakes (2000m) at Caulfield on September 19 before he finished a flat tenth in the Group 1 Underwood Stakes (1800m) at the same venue a week later.
The Galileo entire returned to a semblance of his best form with a sixth place finish behind Amralah in the Group 2 Hebert Power Stakes (2400m) at Caulfield on October 10, but he was one-paced in the Group 3 Geelong Cup (2400m).
Newitt admits that Sertorius would need to improve significantly to have any chance whatsoever in the Melbourne Cup, but he told Correct Weight this morning that he is simply happy to have a ride in ‘the race that stops a nation’ and he added that trainer Jamie Edwards is fairly bullish about the eight-year-old.
“Well the way I like to look at it, we’ve got a ticket in the lottery and you’ve got to be in it to win it,” Newitt said.
“He’s only had one go at the two miles, he ran third in the Sydney Cup behind The Offer.
“His form this preparation is probably a lot better than what it reads on paper.
“Obviously he’s got a big test ahead of him, but Jamie is confident the horse is going well enough.
“He’s drawn a gate, he’s going to get a soft run and anything can happen.
I’m lucky enough that I can ride light so I’ve had plenty of rides in the Melbourne Cup.
“I haven’t ridden anything that’s been in the market, but it’s a big thrill.
“It’s what we ride all year round for and this is the grand final.”
Sertorius is currently available at 2015 Melbourne Cup odds of $201 and he is the extreme outside of the field, while Geelong Cup failure Quest For More ($101) is the only other horse that is available at triple figure Melbourne Cup odds.
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