Newnham uses effective plan with Lanciato

Mark Newnham is confident lightning can strike a third time for Lanciato.

The five-year-old has an impeccable second-up record of two wins from two attempts and his trainer sees no reason why Lanciato cannot continue that trend in Saturday’s Benchmark 94 Handicap (1400m) at Randwick.

Newnham says history suggests several factors will work in Lanciato’s favour.

“He’s won twice second-up. He goes well when he’s down in weight with a space between runs and 1400 second-up is usually a good recipe for him,” Newnham said.

The trainer employed the same strategy for Lanicato a year ago when he resumed with a third over 1200m at Randwick carrying 61kg.

He then won over 1400m at Rosehill with 55kg on his back 27 days later.

Lanciato opened this campaign with a creditable third under 61kg at Rosehill in a Benchmark 80 Handicap (1200m) on December 9.

He has an eight kilo turnaround in Saturday’s higher graded race with Rachel King’s1.5kg claim as he attempts to prevent the Chris Waller-trained Noire notching a fourth successive victory.

Lanciato was the $4.50 second elect with the TAB on Friday behind Noire at $1.90.

Newnham has also accepted with Francesco in a Benchmark 80 Handicap (1400m), without the same expectations.

The six-year-old was runner-up to Poet’s Advocate at Wyong on December 13 and is seeking his first win since late 2016.

“He’s well placed in a race like this. He just hasn’t won for a while,” Newnham said.

Promising two-year-old colt Canyonero rounds out Newnham’s team in the TAB Handicap (1200m), in which he hopes to put down a marker as a Golden Slipper contender.