Modern Era wins the Bathurst Shootout

He may not have been racing a V8, but harness racing driver David Hewitt still had plenty of horse power to work with when it came to the Bathurst Shootout Final on Friday.

It was in the form of a seven-year-old gelding called Modern Era.

In a nod to the Bathurst 1000, the Bathurst Harness Racing Club this year staged the inaugural shootout series.

Time trials were conducted at the track on Wednesday night, with the fastest eighth qualifiers advancing to the decider.

Modern Era, trained in Goulburn by Brad Hewitt, was the fastest qualifier with a time of 1:23.2 over the 1,200 metres. He got his pick of barrier for the final and selected one.

With David Hewitt in the gig for the final, Modern Era live up to his $1.50 favouritism.

The son of Modern Art clocked a 1:24.6 to win by 3.2m over Smack Dab Shannon ($4.80), taking the sit early before pulling ahead with 50m remaining.

By Anya Whitelaw

Reprinted with permission of the Western Advocate