Hewitt wins his first Temora Cup

Goulburn trainer David Hewitt won his first Temora Pacing Cup on Friday when talented mare Holm Three ran down Saloon Passage in the straight to score.  On a warm summer’s night in near perfect conditions, Hewitt timed his run to the minute after racing behind the leader and favourite Shes A Runa for the majority of the harness racing event.

Hewitt conceded after the race that he was surprised he was able to get down to the marker pegs in the early stages.

“I was really happy with Holm Three, it worked out ideally but before the race I didn’t think I was going to be able to get to the front in the early stages,” Hewitt said.

“Sokys Bigbullet held the lead early and as we were racing into the first turn I looked over my shoulder and saw three horses out wider and I didn’t want to be four back in the running line so I drove her forward in an attempt to find the front.”

Hewitt was happy enough to hand over to the race favourite Shes A Runa with more than two laps to go and was confident he would get his opportunity inside the final 400 metres.

“I was happy to take a sit on Shes A Runa and hope for a late gap, everything worked out until Shes A Runa started to get tired going down the back straight so I had to try and squeeze out and chase down Saloon Passage who had a pretty big lead.

“Holm Three chased hard up the straight and was able to win by about a neck, she’s done a great job for us and I think that win takes her to a C5.”

Hewitt is weighing up all of his options with the daughter of Mach Three.

“I think the main aim would be to get her back to Menangle to win her M0 but there are a few options like the Canberra Cup that I will consider as well.

“She’s a strong little thing, she’s a bit short length and height wise but she is pretty well bred so I would think at some stage her owners would think about breeding on with her.”

The Hewitt family had gone close to winning the Temora Cup in recent years but finally scored a victory in the Carnival of Cups event.  David finished third in the 2015 Temora Cup with Super Sea while his son Scott finished second the previous year driving the Dennis Picker trained Condagen.

Greg Hayes