Star loves the home straight!

By Brad Kingsbury
CRANBOURNE is now home to another of the leading players in this year’s Melbourne Spring Racing Carnival.
Star jockey Craig Newitt was in the spotlight last Saturday at Moonee Valley racecourse when he partnered world-rated sprinter Miss Andretti to victory in the $200,000 Group 2 Schweppes Stakes but left the racecourse hype and back slappers far behind when he returned to join his girlfriend, apprentice jockey Melissa Taylor, at their recently purchased home in Cranbourne North.
The Tasmanian born-and-bred horseman settled in the area just over 12 months ago and has already packed a lifetime of experience into his relatively short but hugely successful career.
The 22-year-old hoop has reached stunning highs, including multiple Group race success and victory on the world stage in England, but also seen the dark side of the industry first hand after being suspended for 18 months in 2003 on serious charges including misleading stewards in the fallout from a ride at Sandown on Leone Chiara.
However, he has consigned that dark period to history-and since his return to the saddle at Pakenham in December 2005, Newitt has more than repaid the faith shown in him by a loyal group of family and supporters led by Melissa who has been his partner for four years.
“I met her through the racing game and she’s from a little family the same as I am and we’ve always been involved in horses,” he said.
Both are happy living in Cranbourne and although most of their work is at Caulfield, Craig said the couple would rather be away from town.
“At the time we bought, Melissa was apprenticed at Cranbourne so that suited. She’s now with Mick Price at Caulfield and that’s where I do all my trackwork, too, but it’s not too bad when you leave home at four o’clock in the morning,” he said.
“It’s not in the city but it’s not too far away from the main tracks. We like it and Melissa’s mum is not too far away either so that also suits us, too.”
Craig’s next assignment on Miss Andretti will be in The Age Classic over the Melbourne Cup carnival at Flemington before trainer Lee Freedman takes the horse back on to the world stage, where she created headlines by winning at Royal Ascot in front of the Queen earlier this year.
“Miss Andretti will go to Hong Kong in December and then maybe on to Dubai in March,” said Craig.
“It’s exciting. I’m still only young and if you can be a success on the international stage it opens up so many doors.”
While his talent on a the big stage is undeniable, Melissa keeps Craig’s feet firmly on the ground at home by reminding him about the time she beat him on Cranbourne horse Mount Vernon in a race at Pakenham last year.
“He’s got all his Group 1 photos on the wall in the lounge but the one above the television is the big Mount Vernon picture at Pakenham,” she laughed.
“I don’t let him forget that.”
Another of the spring stars, jockey Craig Williams, was born and bred in Cranbourne and will play a key role in the Melbourne Cup carnival as principal rider for the strong David Hayes stable, which will have at least four runners in the Cup.