Hewitt chasing more Gold

Georges Plains trainer-driver Bernie Hewitt is no stranger to the harness racing winners’ circle on his hometown track, especially during the Bathurst Gold Crown Carnival.

Hewitt has had a fantastic run of success in feature juvenile races during the past decade and is likely to make his presence felt yet again this year in his bid for more Group 1 success.

Hewitt and his owners Wayne and Julie Loader made last year’s Carnival their own when they combined to win two of the four Group 1’s on finals night.

They first claimed the Gold Tiara when their filly Jewel Melody proved too strong for a fast finishing Eve Croker in what was a soul stirring finish.

That win in the Tiara was a springboard for Jewel Melody to scale greater heights, capturing a further three Group 1 features, earning her the title of New South Wales’ best juvenile filly.

Just half an hour earlier, Bernie and his youngest son Doug combined with Ripp who is also raced by the Loaders, to take out the Gold Chalice, the three-year-old destroying a high quality field and providing Doug with his first taste of Group 1 glory.

And just like his stablemate, Ripp was able to win more feature races and be recognised as one of the best pacers in his age group.

“It is a carnival that we always strive to be competitive in,” said Hewitt.

“Last year, to have so much success was just unreal.

“To achieve something like that with family and good friends makes it extra special.”

Tonight the Bathurst Club will host an intriguing nine race program with six heats of the Gold Crown, the talent of many of the youngsters yet to be revealed.

Hewitt has seven runners contesting those heats, the most prominent being Royal Cruiser (Sweet Lou) who will start as an odds-on favourite in heat one.

Royal Cruiser is owned by Bernie’s wife Cath in partnership with the McIntosh family who previously tasted Gold Crown success in 2018 with College Chapel.

He heads into the series with a first up win under his belt and appears to possess a ton of ability.

“He is a very nice horse drawn nicely in gate five which gives him every chance to qualify,” he said.

“And as always, we will be aiming to get as many as possible into next week’s final.”

For complete race entries, click here.

by Michael Dumesny, for HRNSW