Racing: Newitt and Price score dream success in Australian Guineas

The bond between leading Caulfield trainer Mick Price and Craig Newitt clearly showed when the jockey scored an emotional win aboard Heart Of Dreams in the Australian Guineas at Flemington on Saturday.

Newitt's father, Guy, was killed in a car accident the previous Saturday and the funeral will be held in Launceston tomorrow.

But Newitt, who turns 24 on Tuesday, has shown great professionalism and dedication to continue riding in the meantime.

Newitt finished third aboard Aichi in the Newmarket Handicap (1200m) before landing Heart Of Dreams the winner in the A$750,000 Guineas (1600m).

"He rode super in the Newmarket. It's all about Craig," Price said on Saturday.

"Speaking on his behalf, he's happy to just get next Tuesday over with and get back into it. It shows how tough that kid is to come out and ride such a perfect race.

"He had his plan. He wanted to just dig out and be with Trustus and let that horse take him into the race. It was his idea and it worked perfectly and all credit to him.

"He's loyal, tough, hard, professional and he wants to get better all the time.

"We've spoken about him getting better and ousting D. Oliver from where he sits and, hopefully, this is one step on the way to doing that."

Newitt said he had told his father that they wouldn't beat the Show A Heart gelding in the Guineas after he ran third to Fravashi in the group two Autumn Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield on February 21.

Fravashi was sent out $3.10 favourite and jockey Kerrin McEvoy took the Falbrav colt to the front.

However Fravashi, who finished fifth, couldn't keep going in the straight and Newitt pounced on Heart Of Dreams ($3.80) and kicked clear before holding off Von Costa De Hero by ($11) 1 lengths with Lucky Thunder ($51) 1 lengths away third.

"He's won his group one now and I'm just happy for Craig and Larry Bartle," Price said. "Larry said to me he's taken 22 years to get here [winning a Group One race]."

Bartle bred the gelding out of his mare Academy Of Dreams and the 3-year-old has won three and been placed in three of his seven starts.

It was a much improved effort from the runner-up, who looks on the verge of regaining last season's top form.

Nicconi ran a creditable fourth after jumping from the outside barrier in the 12-horse field and settling further back than Brad Rawiller wanted to be.

- AAP