No knock for this Captain

Brad Hewitt knows what it takes to prepare young horses for harness racing features.

And he is looking forward to being part of this year’s New South Wales Breeders Challenge.

Hewitt had the good fortune to inherit the genes of his two grandfathers, the late Tom Hewitt and Frank Day, both men regarded as amongst the most astute horsemen of their era.

This year Hewitt is pinning his hopes for Breeders Challenge success on lightly-raced youngster Captains Knock, a colt by Captaintreacherous that is raced by the Triple Play syndicate, which is primarily made up of Canberra Raiders NRL players, headed by Jarrod Croker.

Croker grew up with Hewitt as a passionate harness racing devotee and after the success of his syndicate’s best pacer, Our Triple Play, they have gone on to purchase and race some smart horses.

Captains Knock is having his second run from a six-month break and returned to racing at Penrith last Thursday night, producing a fighting second, beaten narrowly in a quick 1.56.4 mile rate.

“I was pleased with the effort last week, he went super first-up,” said Hewitt.

“He drew wide on the backline and had to chase hard from the 800-metre mark, and he was only beaten by just over a metre.

“I looked at the replay and the winner, Offyarocka Crocker, who led, was low flying, clocking a 55.8s last half.

“So, it was pleasing that my bloke got so close, given that he was a fair way off him.”

CAPTAIN KNOCK’S FIRST WIN REPLAY

Drawn poorly again for Thursday night’s (Sep. 15) Breeders Challenge heat, Hewitt remains optimistic about Captains Knock’s chances, despite the colt meeting a classy field and the fact that he will again have to do all the chasing.

“I still think he can win the race,” said Hewitt.

“You should never go the races thinking you cannot win, but I do not under-estimate that our task has been made just a little harder after drawing poorly.

“There appears to be plenty of speed drawn off the front line so hopefully the front runners set a good tempo from the outset, as that would certainly help our cause.

“Looking at the opposition, I thought that Smirks Lika Boss was the one to beat.

“He should be able to lead and deal from the front.

“But if my fellow can get a good run into the race, they will know he is there.”

For complete race fields, click here.

by Michael Dumesny, for HRNSW