French arrival Newlook claimed his initial victory in Australia via a powerful staying performance, capturing the Group 2 $300,000 Chairman’s Quality (2600m) at Royal Randwick on Saturday.
Prepared by Trent Busuttin and Natalie Young, Newlook had failed to place in his prior five Australian outings, yet he thrived on the yielding surface to triumph convincingly.
This success positions Newlook favourably ahead of the Group 1 $2 million Sydney Cup (3200m) at Randwick next Saturday.
Victors of the Chairman’s Quality gain automatic entry and weight relief for the Sydney Cup, leaving Newlook ideally situated carrying just 50kg.
Ridden by Rachel King, Newlook at $8.50 surged powerfully through the middle of the track, prevailing by one-and-a-quarter lengths over Campaldino ($7), with Juja Kibo ($3.70 equal favourite) the same distance back in third and Travolta ($3.70 equal favourite) nearly alongside in fourth. King mentioned drawing assurance from Newlook’s prior effort where he rallied late for fifth 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."
Newlook has a shot at joining the 10th horse to achieve the Chairman’s Quality-Sydney Cup double, following 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).
Campaldino, who took the Brisbane Cup last June, demonstrated he’s hitting peak condition perfectly for the Sydney Cup with his solid runner-up effort.
Notably, Campaldino sheds weight from 59kg to 52.5kg ahead of the Randwick 3200m marathon next Saturday.
Jockey Tim Clark impressed by Campaldino’s strong Sydney Cup gallop.
"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 aboard the Ciaron Maher-prepared Juja Kibo also anticipates further progress for the stayer heading into 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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