Hewitt aiming to emulate his father in Canola Cup

Bathurst reinsman Jason Hewitt had one of his best days in the harness racing sulky at Eugowra on Sunday afternoon, guiding two heat winners of the Canola Cup to victory.

Touted as one of the western district’s brightest stars after winning last year’s Final of the Western Regional Breeders Challenge, Chiseled’s (Huntsville) return to racing as a three-year-old had been below expectations.

Yet on Sunday, he stamped himself as the horse to beat in next Monday’s Canola Cup Final with an impressive performance.

Drawing wide in his heat and having to do plenty of work through the middle stages of the 2100m trip, Chiseled impressed by racing clear to score comfortably, pleasing Hewitt no end.

“We were less than happy with his runs earlier in the year, but since sorting through a few niggling issues, he appears to have turned the corner,” said Hewitt.

CHISELED REPLAY

The Huntsville gelding is part-owned by John Ryan, a long-time supporter of the Hewitt family, along with Jason’s partner Grainne Tiernan, so a win in the prestigious $30,000 final would be a real thrill for all concerned.

“My Dad Bernie has won the Canola Cup numerous times, and I clearly recall when he won his first with Supa Nik in 2001 when I was quite young,” he said.

“Even then I thought, ‘gee I would love to win that race someday’.

“Now I get my chance to do that, and I am crossing everything that we come up with a good barrier draw.”

Jason’s other winning drive was aboard Rippin Rupert, a bitter-sweet result after he was a late replacement for Bernie, who had taken a tumble, ironically in Chisleled’s heat and was stood down from driving for the rest of the day.

But Jason was the ideal replacement, as he had a great knowledge of the youngster, having driven him to victory in last year’s Sapling Stakes.

“It was great to get back behind Rupert, albeit at Dad’s expense, and I am just glad that I was able get the job done for his owners,” said Hewitt.

“He gave me a great feel, showing a lethal turn of foot when I asked him for the supreme effort, and he will certainly be a definite danger to my horse in the final.”

For complete race results, click here.

by Michael Dumesny, for HRNSW