But Price stayed staunch and got the chocolates. There were emotional scenes all round in the mounting yard afterwards; Newitt because his recently departed father - his greatest career supporter - hadn't lived to see this career-topping moment, Price because he was thrilled for his jockey and for having finally overcome the Derby bogey.
When Bart Cummings shed the odd tear after winning a few of his 12 Melbourne Cups he blamed it on his hay fever. You get the impression Price was urgently searching for a similar line.
Newitt, in character, remained gracious under the fire of pre-race criticism, allowing the end result to answer it.
"He's simply not a push-button horse in those shorter races. This race was always what was going to suit him."
The Derby victory topped off a remarkable year for Cambridge Stud-based sire Tavistock.
Caulfield Cup winner Mongolian Khan was yesterday taken off the danger list at the Werribee Veterinary Clinic.
Mongolian Khan has been at the clinic since Thursday, potentially fighting for his life after a very serious bout of colic, being described by veterinarians as colitis.
"He's had a pretty tough time, but they called this morning to say he's on the improve," co-trainer Murray Baker told the Herald yesterday.
"The bowel infection he has been fighting is a very serious one and it left him scouring badly.
"These things just happen in horse racing - up until now this horse hasn't had a sick day in his life."
Things went from bad to worse on Saturday for Mongolian Khan's rider Opie Bosson. The New Zealand jockey was suspended for 10 racedays for causing interference riding Charmed Harmony. Before the penalty was announced Bosson asked chief steward Terry Bailey if he could forgo his one ride on Melbourne Cup day tomorrow and start the suspension immediately in the hope that would allow him to ride the Baker/Forsman-trained Turn Me Loose in this Saturday's A$1 million Emirates Stakes.
But that went south when Bailey announced the penalty as 10 racedays, meaning Bosson is out until November 10.
Murray Baker confirmed Turn Me Loose has trained on the right way since his dashing all-the-way win in the Seymour Cup last week, taking his earnings in three starts in Australia this spring to around A$240,000.
"He's absolutely thrived since getting here," said Baker. Kerrin McEvoy has landed the ride on Turn Me Loose.
Ride of the year - no, make that ride of the decade - goes to Melbourne guru Damien Oliver on Disposition in Saturday's A$200,000 Guvera Stakes.
Despite drawing a wide gate at Flemington's 1400m start - right up there with Hastings' 1600m barrier as the worst in Australasia - Disposition was installed the $2.80 favourite.
Someone had confidence Oliver could pull a rabbit out of the hat - he had to and he did.
Oliver dragged Disposition back to last on the rail and looked more like $90 than $2.80 on the home turn.
As is his wont, Oliver stayed cool and gap after gap opened along the rail until Disposition was challenging at the 200m.
He got there in a close finish and if he'd gone around one horse he could not have won.
Every apprentice jockey should be shown that race 100 times.
