Newton (22) has been with the stable for six weeks after shifting from New South Wales, where he drove 78 winners.
"I met him when I was in Australia for the Interdominion and he took up an offer to work for me," Hill said.
"I was hoping he would get a junior driver's licence but he has driven too many winners.
"I know he is starting off at the deep end but I have confidence in his ability."
Newton has driven in workouts at Rangiora and he has driven Tennis Ball in work at Kaiapoi.
Tennis Ball and Baileys Dream give Hill a strong hand in the Classic. Baileys Dream is the drive of Ricky May, who drove London Legend to win the Rangiora Classic in 2006 and 07.
"I am happy with both horses but they will need to be up to the mark with Bettor's Strike in the field," Hill said.
Baileys Dream was taken to Auckland after finishing third to Sleepy Tripp and Bettor's Strike in the Easter Cup, but he returned home when free-for-all races were not held due to lack of horses.
He won a 2600m (mobile) at Rangiora in August 2007.
Tennis Ball was a last-start winner at Addington on April 9 with May the driver.
Baileys Dream (23 wins) and Bettor's Strike (15) share the 15m mark. Tennis Ball (nine wins) and seven others in the field are off the front.
Bettor's Strike is trained by Cran Dalgety, who prepared London Legend.
Fake Chance, who won the race last year, is again off the front. He was driven last year by Mark Purdon. David Butt has the drive tomorrow.
Franco Emirate is well placed to continue on his winning way in race 6. He has drawn one. He is unbeaten in three starts, the most recent by five lengths at Forbury Park in the hands of Dexter Dunn in a race for junior drivers. Trainer Jim Curtin is back in the sulky tomorrow.
Mystic Sun is back with his Lumsden owner Colin McLean. Mystic Sun won five races from the Phil Williamson stable after transferring from McLean in December 2007.
The Sundon gelding won five of his first eight starts when trained by McLean.
•Auckland Reactor won a qualifier by six and a-half lengths at The Meadowlands yesterday in 1.54 for the mile, the last quarter in 26.2.
"Conditions were not that good with wind and his driver Brian Sears said he just jogged it," John Curtin, the manager of Auckland Reactor, said.
"He will have one more qualifier with a view to a race on June 13."
Auckland Reactor, now trained by Kelvin Harrison, had won a qualifier in 1.53.4 the previous week.
Auckland Reactor won 25 of his 31 starts in New Zealand and Australia and took a mile race record of 1.53.5 at Cambridge.
