Newlook, the import from France, registered his first Australian triumph through a tenacious staying run, winning the Group 2 $300,000 Chairman’s Quality (2600m) at Royal Randwick on Saturday.
Trained by Trent Busuttin alongside Natalie Young, Newlook had posted no placings from five prior Australian appearances, but the soft track suited him to dominate.
His Chairman’s Quality score bolsters prospects in the upcoming Group 1 $2 million Sydney Cup (3200m) at Randwick next Saturday.
The Chairman’s spoils include Sydney Cup ballot exemption and no penalty, so Newlook enters on a plum 50kg mark.
A $8.50 chance with Rachel King aboard, Newlook powered home down the track’s centre, scoring by 1¼ lengths ahead of Campaldino ($7) who was the same clear of Juja Kibo ($3.70 equal favourite), from Travolta ($3.70 equal favourite) in fourth spot close up. King took heart from Newlook’s late surge to fifth last time in the Manion Cup.
"I was confident he would take good improvement from his last start, he was only second up there,” King said.
"He still probably blew out at the 50m, I thought I was going to win easy at the furlong but he just got a little bit tired.’
"But he’ll take good improvement again, I galloped him during the week and was confident he would run well over this distance."
A Chairman’s Quality-Sydney Cup double would make Newlook the 10th such achiever, after Circle Of Fire (2024), The Offer (2014), Jessicabeel (2010), No Wine No Song (2008), Henderson Bay (2002), Linesman (1997), King Aussie (1990), Major Drive (1987) and Marooned (1986).
Last June’s Brisbane Cup conqueror Campaldino proved on song for the Sydney Cup courtesy of his determined second.
Campaldino conveniently drops to 52.5kg from 59kg for the 3200m Randwick feature next week.
Rider Tim Clark admired Campaldino’s recent Sydney Cup pipe-opener.
"He bounced back to form today,” Clark said."Then next Saturday with a few kilos less he is going to be hard to beat."
Craig Williams on Ciaron Maher’s Juja Kibo expects sharpening for the 2026 Sydney Cup.
"He has run really well again and ahead of his ‘Grand Final’ next week,” Williams said. "It is all part of Ciaron’s preparation with today’s run into the Cup in seven days.’"
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