Family rivalry heats up in The Rising Sun

While young Queensland harness racing trainer Gemma Hewitt has the utmost respect for freakish three-year-old pacer Ripp (Somebeachsomewhere) trained by her father Bernie and to be driven by brother Doug, she’s more than ready to go to battle for Group One family bragging rights.

Gemma, who trains at Logan Village, also has a smart one in gelding Kashed Up (For A Reason) in the $305K (G1) AQWA Constructions The Rising Sun at Brisbane’s Albion Park this Saturday night (July 9).

Kashed Up will compete in the rich event for the second consecutive year, finishing an eye-catching fifth last year behind Amazing Dream (Nathan/Mark Purdon). Last weekend, Kashed Up and top driver Brendan Barnes combined to post a 50-1 boilover win in the Nutrien Equine (Group Two) the Qld Sun.

“There’s some outstanding horses in The Rising Sun and I’m just excited to be part of it,” Gemma said.

“I’m not overly concerned about our back row draw (11) because there’s speed galore off the front and with a bit of luck we could land in a handy spot straight off,” she said.

“Kashed Up is feeling great at the moment and has worked well this week. He felt nice in his fastwork,” she said moments after a hopple-up session at Albion Park yesterday morning.

The feature event is chock-full of horses we’ll hear a great deal about for the next four or five years.

Astute horseman Bernie Hewitt, based at Bathurst, makes no secret that Ripp (known around the stables as Bondi) is potentially the best horses he’s had in over 40 years.

“I say that just going on his sheer ability. Hopefully it all falls into place for him on Saturday (the pacer is drawn in barrier 1) and he shows what he’s capable of doing,” Hewitt said.

“We haven’t got any pre-race plans, so I’ll leave that up to Doug. We’ve got gate speed, but we’ll see what unfolds and go from there. It’s really going to be a cracker of a race.”

Ripp, a winner of six of his eight lifetime starts, is raced by prominent owners Wayne and Julie Loader, who are the main clients of both the Bernie and Gemma Hewitt stables.

The speedster kicked off his career in January last year as a two-year-old, with a 23-metre win at his home track – but then disaster struck.

“He went close to severing his superficial flexor tendon when he was running through a creek. I really thought that was the end. But the vet was outstanding,” Hewitt said.

“Then Wayne and Julie took him home to their property and did all the rehab up there. They cared for him month after month.”

Seemingly against all the odds, Ripp returned to the racetrack 13 months later and recorded a first-up win at Bathurst in February. He has since provided the Hewitts with Group One success in the Australian Gold 3YO Final and Bathurst Gold Chalice Final.

Ripp is one of two three-year-olds in The Rising Sun (the other being the outstanding Leap To Fame, trained by Grant Dixon) who will tackle more experienced and seasoned stars including Ladies in Red and Better Eclipse.

Regardless of the outcome on Saturday night, Ripp and Leap To Fame are almost certain to clash again in the G1 Queensland Derby on July 23.

“After that there are a few races in Victoria, but we’re not committing to anything because he may be looking for a short break by then. We’ll just wait and see,” Hewitt said.

One of many great conditioners of horses in the Bathurst district, Hewitt grew up helping his father Tom work his team of horses on a family property near Crookwell. His brothers Mark and David and sister Jenna followed suit, and have also been involved in the sport all their lives.

“I can’t remember for certain when I started, but it was probably as an eight or nine-year-old. I stayed in the area renting a place until about 20 years ago and then my wife Cath and I moved to George Plains where we are now,” Hewitt said.

There’s been many highlights along the journey including his first Group One victory in 2017 driving Royal Story and then the following year guiding College Chapel to take out the 2018 Gold Crown Final. In a stellar season he has won another four Gr 1s so far this year.

Two months ago he posted his 1700th training winner when Tom The Curious was successful at Parkes – and wouldn’t the Coolangatta Sands Hotel come alive if he adds to that tally on Saturday night!

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by Terry Gange, for Harnesslink