Hewitt hopefuls in for a big night at Breeders Challenge

There’s power in numbers for prominent Western Districts harness racing trainer Bernie Hewitt leading into the opening round of heats for the New South Wales Breeders Challenge at Bathurst this evening (Sep. 20).

Hewitt will line up an impressive 16 runners across four juvenile age groups in the eight heats.

Hewitt and his team concentrate much of their time on young horses and have derived a great deal of success with them in recent times, preparing some of Australia’s most exciting juveniles from their Georges Plains base just south of Bathurst.

The most notable of those have been Group 1 winners Jewel Melody and Ripp.

In all, the Hewitt stable has 18 horses engaged, littered with quality right through his team including last-start winners and stakes-performed runners.

“We currently have a good team of young horses around us,” said Hewitt.

“Like many of the professional stables, we head to the yearling sales each year hoping to find the next topliner and we also have clients that breed with the same intent.

“It brings you a lot of satisfaction when you are then rewarded with having stock that are good enough to be competitive in feature races like the Breeders Challenge.

“Right across the board tonight we have several live chances but when you have so many competing against each other, all you can do is have them fit and ready to go and do the best you can for their respective owners.”

Hesitant to declare any of his runners as “good things,” Hewitt is quietly confident that Lady Kingsclair will run a forward race in the second heat for the two-year-old fillies (Race 9).

She was impressive in winning the Group 2 New South Wales Breeders Blue Series Final last start and has now won four of her five race starts.

“She has done a great job for her connections this season and is a really progressive filly,” said Hewitt.

“The race tonight looks suitable for her and she will be hard to beat.”

Imani, a filly raced by Parkes enthusiast, John Dwyer appears to be Lady Kingsclair’s main threat following a strong win at Penrith last start, when she rated 1.58.5.

For complete race entries, click here.

by Michael Dumesny, for HRNSW