Sweet Victory return for Mark Newnham
Mark Newnham is looking forward to getting a more definitive gauge on promising filly Sweet Victory when she resumes on ground tailor-made for her at Canterbury.
The trainer was encouraged by the three-year-old’s first campaign during spring when she made steady progress through the grades until a firm track in Melbourne impacted on her first attempt at black-type.
Newnham acquired Sweet Victory, unraced, when James Cummings joined Godolphin and tested her from 1200m to the 1800m of the Listed Seppelt Wine Stakes at Flemington in November.
Sweet Victory returns in the Pluck@Vinery Handicap (1250m) on Wednesday, when she is likely to get a soft track.
“The jar will be out of the ground so I can see her running really well,” Newnham said.
“She went through her grades well and then we stepped her up in distance at the end of her prep and she found the track a bit firm at Flemington on Oaks day.”
Sweet Victory has a win over 1500m at Hawkesbury plus two minor placings from four starts, and after a decent spell Newnham is eyeing a return to Saturday grade before entertaining any thought of racing her out of Sydney.
“She showed the way she won her maiden she’s got above average ability and this is the right time of year to have her in,” he said.
Newnham said he would have a clearer idea of her optimum distance during this preparation.
“She runs at least a mile. Even when she won her maiden she covered ground the whole race and was very strong through the line,” he said.
“We’ll let her keep improving and let her show us where she’s at.”
Newnham is also excited about another three-year-old filly, Star Sensation, making her comeback in a Benchmark 77 Handicap (1200m) at Rosehill on Saturday.
Star Sensation has three wins and five minor placings from nine starts.
“She’s only missed a place once in a lead-up to last year’s Golden Slipper,” Newnham said.
“If she measures up in some nice races in Sydney she may go to Queensland.”