by Ray Thomas - International Racing Editor , 9 hours ago

3 minute read

Trainer Matt Dunn can provide star apprentice Jett Newman with a farewell winner on talented Moon Sweeper in the TAB Highway Plate (1600m) at Royal Randwick on Saturday.

Trainer Matt Dunn can provide star apprentice Jett Newman with a farewell winner on talented Moon Sweeper in the TAB Highway Plate (1600m) at Royal Randwick on Saturday.

Newman's indentures have been transferred to trainers Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott and she will start at Tulloch Lodge after the Randwick meeting.

It is an unselfish move by Dunn to let Newman try her luck in Sydney racing but he believes the time is right for Newman to take her career to the next level.

Trainer : MATTHEW DUNN after, GOLDEN DECADE winning the COOLMORE HIGHWAY Picture: Martin King / Sportpix

"If I hold Jett back any longer, her career development might stagnate,'' Dunn told Racing And Sports.

"She's a competitive kid and now is the time to send her down to Sydney for the next challenge.

"She has been with me for about 14 months now and this has all happened a year or so before we had anticipated.

"But Jett ripped through her country claim in 10 months and is down to claiming 2kg at the provincials.

"She's ready for this move and it will give her the chance to ride against the better jockeys in a very competitive environment. Even riding trackwork against these jockeys will help her development.''

Newman, 18, has been riding for less than two seasons but already has 113 winners including 58 for the Dunn stable.

But Dunn revealed he was initially reluctant to take on the crack young apprentice.

"A good friend of her father, Mitch, is a friend of mine and he rang me one day to ask if I wanted to take on an apprentice,'' Dunn said.

"I said 'no, not really' but he still sent me about 50 replays of Jett riding in barrier trials.

"When I watched her riding, it was noticeable she had the perfect 'seat' in the saddle and just looked a natural.''

Dunn, who has also had a career-best season training 126 winners so far to be seventh in the NSW premiership for stable earnings of nearly $6.4 million prizemoney, believes Moon Sweeper can end his partnership with Newman on a winning note at Royal Randwick.

MOON SWEEPER winning the TAB HIGHWAY PLATE at Rosehill in Australia. Picture: Bradly Photos

Moon Sweeper, a brilliant Rosehill Highway winner last start, is the $1.70 favourite to maintain his winning momentum.

"The only Highways Moon Sweeper he can run in these days are the 'Plates' otherwise he would get 65kg,'' Dunn said.

"But gets into Saturday's race with 59kg topweight and after Jett's claim, he has 56kg so he's well weighted.
"He has drawn a nice barrier, likes the wet and he's in very good form.''

Newman has four rides at the Randwick including two for the Brett and Georgie Cavanough stable on Honniball Drive ($23) in the Elite Sand And Soil Handicap (1400m) and Williamsburg ($15) in the Precise Air Handicap (1800m), and the Matthew Smith-trained Astero ($26) in the Toyota Forklifts Handicap (1400m).