Brad Hewitt and Captains Knock. Photo Courtesy HRNSW. Photo by Brett Atkins
BRAD Hewitt is about to go from zero to hero.
Hewitt, 33, has never driven in an Inter Dominion final, but looks primed to contest both as a trainer and driver this year.
The Goulburn-based horseman made quite the splash on opening night with a training and driving double – Captains Knock and The Locomotive – at Newcastle.
And the pair look set to earn serious points again on night two at Bathurst, which could essentially book their spots in the pacing and trotting finals respectively at Menangle on December 14.
“That was a rewarding night (at Newcastle),” Hewitt said. “We felt like both horses were right where we wanted them, but still with room to improve through the busy series.”
Captains Knock struck first, courtesy of a daring Hewitt drive, in the second of the pacing heats.
When the leaders steadied the tempo in the middle stages of the 2030m race, Hewitt unleashed Captains Knock around the field in search of the lead.
But leaders Don Hugo and Tenzing Bromac had other ideas and kicked-up, leaving Hewitt precariously placed.
“Thankfully, it turned out OK and I was able to drop into the one-one (trail) behind Tenzing Bromac,” Hewitt said.
“But the horse still had to be good enough to sprint mid race like, relax again and then out-sprint them at the finish.
“He’s only four, but he’s been in open class all this year and it’s really strengthened him up. He did a good job.
“It showed he’s on the top few chances in the series, I think. With Leap To Fame and Swayzee missing, it’s a chance for all to try and win a big one.”
Captains Knock is $2.80 favourite to win again, despite a back row draw (gate 10) in his second round heat at Bathurst on Wednesday night.
Hewitt rates another opening night winner, WA Cup hero Minstrel, as the horse to beat in the pacing series.
“I don’t usually rate the WA form, but he’s a bit different because he’s an old, seasoned horse and has done it the hard way, like when he sat parked to win the WA Cup,” he said.
“He looked really good the other night, showed lots of gate speed and seemed to cruise.”
As pleased as Hewitt was with Captains Knock, he leans to trotter The Locomotive as his best chance of winning a final.
“There’s not as much depth in the trotting series and Just Believe missing helps us all,” he said.
“He only did what he had to do the other night and I drove him a bit too conservatively in front, thinking of the next two rounds of heats.
“He prefers to bowl along and it was only after the line when he was really hitting his straps. He’ll improve a lot from that and he doesn’t have to lead to win.”
