A decision to stick to the inside rail at Flemington on Saturday proved the winning move as the Bjorn Baker-trained Caballus turned up and outsprinted his rivals for an upset 2026 Newmarket Handicap result down the famous ‘Straight Six’.

Underrated by the punters despite having won two of his past four starts, the talented I Am Invincible gelding went to another level to claim a maiden elite-level success in the Group 1 $2 million Newmarket Handicap (1200m) on All-Star Mile Day.

Second-up off a nice run for second behind Joliestar in the Group 2 Expressway Stakes, Caballus franked that form further south while Joliestar went on to win Randwick’s Group 1 Canterbury Stakes (1300m) a few moments later in Sydney.

Continuing his good strike-rate at Flemington, Caballus was ridden to victory by Craig Newitt who jumped aboard the five-year-old for the first time in the sprint classic.

“It’s been a process this week to work out what was going to go on with Hugh (Bowman) coming (but didn’t get his weight) and what were going to be the alternatives,” Baker’s stable rep Luke Hilton told Racing Victoria post-win.

“Scott Darby was heavily involved and myself and Curtis Scott said he wanted Froggy (Newitt).

“He does his homework and he’s won four of them now, he’s used to winning them and it’s an amazing effort by the team to get the result today. It’s huge.”

The Newmarket has been a happy hunting ground for the hoop they call Froggy with Newitt securing his record fourth win in the race and his first since partnering The Quarterback to victory back in 2016.

“Quite emotional, actually,” Newitt said.

“10 years, 11 years probably since my last one. So, it’s been a while, but I’ve been sitting equal leader on the most amount of Newmarket wins, probably the most historic race in Australia at the moment, apart from the Melbourne Cup, especially for sprinting.

“To be the most winningest rider, I’m very honoured.”

Taken straight to the front from barrier one, Caballus stuck to the inside to lead all-the-way and hold on to beat Gallant Son by a quarter-length on the line with Angel Capital finishing off the Newmarket Handicap trifecta in third off an on-pace run.

“We thought it (barrier one) could be with us, it could be against us,” Hilton added.

“The way the track played earlier in the day in the sprint races they were coming down the outside and halfway through the day, Bjorn rang me and said should we go straight to the inside fence.

“I said, let’s see what Froggy thinks, and Froggy came out and said if everyone is OK, I want to go to the inside fence.

“We expected everyone to go to the outside fence and thought that might have been to our advantage, but they followed us and he was too good.”

The potential is there now to head north for a shot at the Group 1 $3 million TJ Smith Stakes (1200m) at Randwick on April 4.

Caballus has firmed in from $26 to $15 in futures 2026 TJ Smith Stakes betting at Ladbrokes.com.au to complete the interstate double.

“Bjorn has done an amazing job with him and Darby (Racing) who picked him up as an on-line purchase,” Hilton said.

“He did a good job as a colt, but he wasn’t performing to his level.

“We gelded him, gave him time and he’s gone from strength to strength with each preparation.

“The more Bjorn has been able work with him, the better he’s got and he’s really improved over the last six months and he’s a Group 1 winner.

“It’s a great achievement by the team.”

Boom dual Group 1 winning colt Tentyris meanwhile has eased in the markets after finishing fifth as the beaten odds-on favourite in the Newmarket only 1.5 lengths beaten with a hefty 57kg on his back.

“The horse ran very well, just the way the track’s racing they’ve stayed right down near the rail,” Tentyri’s jockey Mark Zahra said.

“We drew out, we were around the right horses when we got out, he’s in the middle of the track and nothing around him gave him some chase, the ones on the inside was just a different race.”

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