Craig Newitt's love affair with Newhart continued in Launceston on Wednesday with a win in the $100,000 Mowbray Stakes.
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Out for three straight after wins in January's Devonport Cup and the $100,000 Thomas Lyons Stakes in Hobart two weeks ago, Newhart was a class above over over 1600m.
The race favourite finished a length clear of Mandela Effect in what was Newitt's seventh win aboard Newhart in 13 outings.
READ MORE: All the live action from the Launceston Cup
"To be honest he's your horse of the year winner without a doubt - he's a genuine star on the rise," Newitt said.
"For some reason this preparation he's got a turn of foot - he sort of was always a bit of a grinder - but his last two runs he's really showed good acceleration which he had to today to get out of a tricky spot."
Newitt said the Leanne Gaffney-trained gelding would undoubtedly do well on the mainland.
"He's an absolute gentleman to do anything with and it's nice that he's got good ability to go with it," Newitt said.
"I've got no doubt he'd measure up to one of the 1400 [or] mile top line handicap races.
"The quicker they go the better he is and he's a horse that continues to rise through the ranks and he showed today he's the best horse in the state by far."
Managing owner Denise Martin complimented Newitt on a "beautiful ride".
"Craig got a lovely run up on the fence in and was positioned very well - about the corner I was saying to myself 'get out of there Craig' and he did," Martin said.