Racing: Newitt hopes to make headway in Oakleigh Plate

MELBOURNE - Victorian jockey Craig Newitt is excited about his prospects of landing his second Oakleigh Plate on tiny filly Headway at Caulfield on Saturday.

Newitt, who won the feature Caulfield sprint on Snitzel four years ago, believes Headway has the finish to topple the crack field, which includes 2008 winner and former champion Racehorse of the Year Weekend Hussler.

Trained by Peter Moody, Headway finished fifth to Nicconi when resuming in the Lightning Stakes (1000m) but Newitt liked her run and expects the Oakleigh Plate to be run to suit her on her home track.

"I thought her run was terrific the other day," Newitt told TVN.

"She was a fair way back and had to duck back to the inside ground when Nicconi came around them.

"She showed really good acceleration and just flattened out the last bit.

"I think trained on the track with lightning speed up front she is one with no weight on her back and will be savaging the line."

The Golden Slipper runner-up last season, Headway has won four of her 11 starts including the Coolmore Stud Stakes at her last run of the spring.

Luke Nolen rode her in the Lightning but he will ride Headway's stablemate Wanted on Saturday.

Wanted and Headway are drawn alongside each other in barriers three and four respectively.

Moody's other Oakleigh Plate runners, Avenue and Tickets, drew the two outside barriers,12 and 13, respectively. All Moody's runners are 3-year-olds and are among eight horses on the 52kg minimum in the 13-horse field.

Weekend Hussler heads the weights with 58.5kg and is having his first start since last autumn.

The winner of 12 races including seven group one features, Weekend Hussler didn't race last spring because of injury and is at $13 with TAB Sportsbet.

Meanwhile, Caulfield Guineas winner Starspangledbanner had his last serious hitout on Wednesday, rolling home his last 600m in a leisurely 38s.

"That is all he needed to do," trainer Leon Corstens' son Troy said.

"He wasn't out to set the world on fire. He had a good hitout Monday morning and we don't like to do too much the last gallop out from a big race."

Starspangledbanner, who is also carrying 52kg, will be ridden by Danny Nikolic who has partnered him in his past five starts including when fourth first-up in the Lightning.

"He has trained on and is much fitter now," Corstens said. "He's drawn barrier six and that is perfect for him as he will go forward.

"He doesn't have to lead but if that presents itself we will take it up."

Starspangledbanner, along with Wanted, is pressing for TAB Sportsbet favouritism at $6 ,while Lucky Secret, who was beaten a nose last year by Swiss Ace, heads the Oakleigh Plate market at $5.50.

Headway is at $15, ahead of stablemates Avenue $18 and Tickets ($21).

* New South Wales trainer Paul Messara gained his wish when race favourite Beneteau drew barrier nine for Saturday's Blue Diamond Stakes at Caulfield.

However the Tony Vasil camp was downcast when second favourite Psychologist drew the outside gate, 16.

Messara, who is based at Scone in the Hunter Valley, was pleased with the marble which he drew for the beautifully-bred Beneteau on behalf of the owners, which include his father John's Arrowfield Stud and Julian Blaxland's Blue Sky Thoroughbreds.

Arrowfield is the naming rights sponsor of Victoria's premier 2-year-old event.

"There was a little bit of pressure, but I'm very pleased with that. It's better than 15 or 16," Messara said yesterday. "We're halfway there, I was hoping for anywhere between five and 10."

"I can say this quite confidently, we have had no setbacks whatsoever with the colt. He came through the Prelude quite well and I expect him to make natural improvement," Messara said.

"I haven't asked too much of him on the track to make sure he went through 100 per cent sound, and he is." AAP