Hewitson to the fore
APPRENTICE Lyle Hewitson, a more than accomplished work rider before joining the SA Jockeys Academy, shed his claim in record time and Sean Tarry was quick to realise his potential. Hewitson rode out most of his claim for Tarry and it is obviously a relationship that has jelled.
Hewitson has re-located to the Highveld where Tarry aside, he has found good support from other yards, and with racing taking place three times a week it was an obvious career move.
Hewitson is a rider with a head on his shoulders as he showed in the first with the five-year-old Newyorkstateofmind finally shedding his maiden in the first at Greyville yesterday.
The apprentice was given free rein by Tarry and worked it out for himself although he had ridden the gelding on three other occasions.
“Mr Tarry left it up to me and I gave him a chance. I let him relax and finish off his race.”
It worked out perfectly with Newyorkstateofmind roaring home from off the pace as hot favourite Nauticus emptied out for third leaving outsider Raw Courage chasing for second.
“Ted’s got more patience than me,” quipped Weiho Marwing referring to Ted Naidoo after the Ashburton-based trainer pulled off something of a training feat to get Queen’s Crest to win. Equipped with every aid possible she got home ahead of a decidedly unlucky Agustina but it is the number in the frame that counts.
“She is a very, very temperamental filly and very difficult,” said Marwing.
This was her second start for the yard who inherited the filly after Bennet Bulana handed in his brief earlier this year.
Lowan Denysschen goes about his business quietly and given the general quality of horse he has to deal with he does a superb job.
Pure Valor
Pure Valor is probably the best horse in his yard and the gelding has repaid him four times over as he scored a smart victory in the Saddles Arms Restaurant Handicap.
Patiently handled by Brandon Lerena, the five-year-old moved through swiftly from off the pace to put his race to bed in a matter of strides.
Maybe and Modernista looked the obvious pair in the Track & Ball Gaming Handicap and so it proved.
The two pulled clear of their field over the final furlong with Maybe, who got first run on her rival, hanging on gamely under Anthony Delpech for privately-based Richmond trainer Doug Campbell.
Warren Kennedy left it late aboard Redcarpet Captain, very late in fact, but a wide draw and a hefty weight was not enough to stop Gavin van Zyl’s runner in the Racing. It’s A Rush Handicap. Always rated by the stable, the gelding has taken time to find his best after losing his way in his sophomore year, but has taken to the poly track winning both starts.
Pace-making Al Ciberano and Waltzed Home looked to have the battle to themselves entering the final furlong but Redcarpet Captain came with a telling late run to snatch victory with a blanket covering the first three home.