South Australian training partnership Shane and Cassie Oxlade continued a near-unbeaten preparation with four-year-old Sghirripa with victory in the Listed Christmas Stakes (1100m) at Caulfield.
With a record that now stands at six wins and five placings in 13 starts, the Oxlades had no hesitation in booking Craig Newitt for the mount in a change that saw the left-handed whip-rider a major factor in the $200,000 feature.
"After Kayla Crowther decided to stay home, 'Froggy' was the first person I called," Shane said.
"With the stick in the left hand, he has the habit of laying in (and) I think a ride like that will do him good to straighten him up and I was more than happy to have him on."
After two wins at benchmark level in Adelaide, Sghirripa crossed the border and finished third in the Listed Village Stakes (1100m) earlier this month, a springboard to winning on Boxing Day.
"He didn't step as well as I thought he would," Oxlade said.
"But then he tracked up beautifully and I thought he'd go to the outside on the corner but he came back inside and was really strong late."
🌟🌟Congratulations to the Oxlade Team and connections with Sghirripa winning the Listed Christmas Stakes at Caulfield today and making it 6 wins from just 13 starts.
— Grenville Stud (@grenvillestud) December 26, 2023
Sghirripa was a graduate of our 2021 @mmsnippets Adelaide Yearling Sale draft 🌟🌟#TasBred https://t.co/9Rx8rqkDXd
Newitt said Sghirripa travelled kindly to put himself in the race at the top of the straight.
"He's a lovely horse, this bloke, and he's got a very good future ahead of him," Newitt said.
"He felt like the winner a fair way out.
"With that tendency to lay in when you put him under full pressure, being a natural left-hander straightened him up.
Sghirripa ($5.50) scored by 1¾ lengths over Najem Suhail ($9.50) with Curran ($15) three-quarters of a length away third.
