The Blues one point loss to the Maroons in the first State of Origin game has New South Wales footy fanatic and harness racing trainer Bernie Hewitt focused on evening up the score in one of Queensland’s showcase 3yo races, the $100,000 Group 1 QBRED Triad Final for Colts and Geldings at Albion Park on Saturday night.
“We’ve been discussing the game on the drive up to Queensland, we’d love to turn the tables on the track but just like last night, this race will be tough too,” Hewitt said.
Hewitt, from Georges Plains, just outside of Bathurst has been making the trek north on and off now for close to three decades since first making the trip with his smart filly Pretty Sassy in 1985 and he knows what it takes to win races here. His Queensland visit a couple of seasons ago won him close to 20 races. This year won’t be as fruitful as he only has two horses in tow but he is quietly confident he can have success with his duo Allnight Raid and travelling mate Trikala. Both horses are racing Saturday night. Hewitt’s main mission is to get his promising 3yo Allnight Raid back into a winning groove. The trainer says he is comfortable that he is going to be “flying under the radar” when the Triad form is being assessed. The odds are stacked against Allnight Raid in the Group 1 race, his first start at Albion Park, and his first out of his home state race in his 13 start career. Ten of Allnight Raid’s starts have been at Bathurst and his four race victories have been on his home track. “It’s a flying visit for me, although Allnight Raid and Trikala will stay here for a bit,” Hewitt said. “I’m pretty happy with his (Allnight Raid’s) progress and where he is at right now, it’s taken him a little while to get fit but his last two races have been quite good, he just missed out in a pretty good race last week.” In that race, the $10,000 3yo Classic at Cootamundra last Sunday, Allnight Raid was beaten a half head when second to Stening in a tight three-way finish.
Allnight Raid wasn’t paid up for the QBRED races as a 2yo but started off his career in NSW in a blaze of glory, winning his first three 2yo starts and went into the 2014 Bathurst Gold Crown as the horse to beat. “He didn’t win, he finished 7th, he went for a spell after that and came back and won first up on the new big track at Bathurst, then went out again and it’s taken him a touch longer to get back to his best form this time, ” Hewitt said.
Those races this preparation have Allnight Raid primed for a better performance and he goes into the Group 1 Final with a good barrier draw at four on the front row and Hewitt should be able to place the gelding in a nice postion from the outset. "All going well with the trip up and the race going to plan, he's in this race with a real chance," Hewitt said.
Bred in Queensland by Cold Mountain Stud, Allnight Raid is a son of Jennas Beach Boy stallion Gold Dust Beach from the 1.53.4 Canadian mare Mystic Mystery. He is the only one of the mare’s nine foals to race in Australia with her previous eight progeny foaled and raced in the USA.
On Saturday night close to $400,000 prizemoney is on offer at Albion Park with the club hosting two Group 1, $100,000 Finals for the QBRED 3yo Triad with the Colts & Gelding Final raced at 8.12pm and the Fillies Final at 8.42pm. There will also be two $50,000 Finals for QBRED 4yo Triad, with the Entires & Geldings Group 2 race at 7.13pm and the Mares Group 2 at 7.42pm.
by David Aldred
