Brad Hewitt has bounced back from the loss of his favourite horse

Brad Hewitt badly needed a morale boost in the wake of Hollywood Strip’s sad demise at the end of August. The giant three year old had built a stunning record of thirteen wins from fifteen starts including  a Breeder’s Challenge Final, and a NSW Pacer’s Derby Final in sub 1.50. This year’s Queensland Derby looked to be at Hollywood Strip’s mercy following a cracking third behind Captain’s Mistress and Marketplace in the Gr1 Rising Sun at Albion Park on July 4th. It also seemed a formality that he’d be one of the first to capture the attention of a TAB Eureka slot holder.

It’s been well documented that Hollywood Strip sustained a hairline near hind pastern fracture during a leisurely workout on Shane and Wayne Graham’s private training track only days before the Queensland Derby. He was rushed to a nearby veterinary clinic where the injury was quickly identified, and three screws were inserted to stabilise the fracture.

“The vets were very happy with the result and gave owner Mick Boots and myself a very good prognosis,” said Brad.

”We were stunned a few days later when he had to go back into surgery after aggravating the injury by lashing out in his box.” 

This time the original three screws were removed, and replaced by another eight. For the first few days his recovery rate was swift and uncomplicated. The alarm bells sounded when laminitis suddenly developed in his opposite hind foot. Despite frantic efforts by the vets his condition deteriorated rapidly, and the call was made soon after to euthanize one of Australia’s most promising harness horses.

The tragedy greatly distressed Brad Hewitt and all those close to the “gentle giant”. Morale was low in the Goulburn stable for many weeks, lightened by a flurry of good form from other members of the team. By a bizarre twist of fate Brad would still win the Queensland Derby with the promising Palladium after parking outside the leader for most of the trip.  Palladium returned to NSW to win a Carousel heat at Menangle before going under to Nymbal in the final. Then it was off to Melbourne to win a heat of the Victoria Derby which he followed with a cracking fifth in DynamiteDan’s final, beaten only four metres.

On October 31st pony sized Palladium was back at Menangle where he sat one out one back before scoring nicely at NR95 level in 1.49.6. Brad snared a double for the night when Cormoran Strike won the 1609m trot. “That was the trotter’s fifth win since we got him from NZ and also Palladium’s sixth since Mick Boots bought him out of NZ.

“He’s no Hollywood Strip, but there are more wins in store  for a beautiful little horse,” said Brad.

Recent Menangle wins with Forever Onthe Punt, Snap Shot and Janie Blu have also played a part in helping Brad and staff over a very difficult time. Stable “apprentice” Harrison Ross won races on both Forever Onthe Punt and Snap Shot earning a pat on the back from his boss.

“Harrison is a local Goulburn boy who turned up at the stable one day keen to learn something about horse management,” said Brad.

“He picked things up pretty quickly and was in the gig in no time. He showed natural ability in fast work earning him a crack at race driving. I’m very pleased with the way he’s going. It looks like another young bloke has been bitten by the harness racing bug.”

Thirty five year old Brad Hewitt is a  fourth generation harness horseman who was jogging horses by age eight under the tutelage of his grandfather Tom. He’s a member of one of Australia’s best known  trotting dynasties. His father David and uncles Bernie and Mark have all enjoyed great success in the sport. Brothers and cousins are numerous in the industry. Brother Sam, an accomplished horse breaker is currently training star filly Ark Sea winner of the recent Gr 1 Breeders Challenge 3YO Fillies Final.  Brother Scott is training his own team of horses after spending several years as an in demand farrier. Brad’s stout trotting pedigree is further enhanced by his mother Maree, a member of the prolific Day trotting clan.

Brad Hewitt was driving fast work by early teens, and by the time he applied for his own licence in 2006 he had a very good handle on the care and management of the standardbred horse. He won his first race on Nifty Hare at Canberra in 2008- the first of his current tally of 966 wins which includes twelve at Gr 1 level . Many classy horses have already been in his life, but he unhesitatingly declares Hollywood Strip to be the best, notwithstanding the fact that he’d had only 15 starts at the time of his tragic passing in August.

Snapping at Hollywood Strip’s heels on the Hewitt list of favourites, is the massively talented Captain’s Knock. Currently doing a short stud season the son of Captain Treacherous is sitting on a record of thirty two wins and twenty one placings for close to one million dollars in prize money. Twenty seven of those wins have been on Brad’s watch. Frustratingly the stallion has developed a serious aversion to float travel.

“It reached a dangerous stage,” said Hewitt. “It was only a matter of time before he seriously hurt himself. In an effort to reduce his travel as much as possible we decided to send him to Jason Grimson at Menangle where most of his racing was happening anyway. The change of scenery hasn’t done him any harm because he reeled off five straight wins before heading off for his stint at stud. He’s a high maintenance horse with several issues but what a talent.”

Occupying a prominent spot on Brad’s honour roll is Spare Me Days, a horse he bred himself before training him to win 21 races with 35 placings for $440,000.

Named after an old world expression frequently used by his grandfather, Spare Me Days was the kind of horse every young trainer dreams about. Another favourite was Our Triple Play, an expat Kiwi  who won 17 races with 24 placings for the Hewitt stable. Brad won 13 races on the talented Rockin’ Marty for his dad David including a Gr 1 Breeders Challenge. He also went within a metre of victory in the Gr 1 Blacks A Fake when second to Amazing Dream.

Another brilliant horse trained by David Hewitt was Extreme Sea who won seven from only ten starts before an injured suspensory ligament forced his early retirement. Those wins included a Riverina Championship at Wagga and two editions of the TAB Regional Championship at Menangle both by big margins.

“For sheer natural talent he was one of the best horses I’ve ever driven,” says Brad.

“He gave drivers a great feel and would have gone a long way had he stayed sound.”

Brad had a lot of time for talented trotter The Locomotive with whom he won a string of races including the 2024 Inter Dominion Trotters Grand Final at Menangle. He and David jointly occupy a stabling complex right on the Goulburn Paceway where they have the use of the spacious racetrack and an adjoining sand track. Between them they work around 28 horses all year round. Regular visitors to the stables are Brad’s wife Milly, daughter Ruby (7) and son William (5).

“Milly knew nothing about harness horses when we first met, but has learned a great deal over the years,” says Brad.

“In fact there’s nothing she can’t handle in the way of stable management nowadays. The kids both like the horses, especially Ruby who’s become very attached to them. She was very upset when we lost Hollywood Strip recently. Few days went by when he didn’t put his head down over the stable door to get a pat from Ruby.”  

At just 35 and with a tremendous grounding in the sport, Brad Hewitt is going to be a force in NSW harness racing well into the future. He conditions horses superbly and drives them with sound judgement. Right at the moment he’s in second place on the NSW drivers ladder  with 70 wins including 25 at Menangle. On the trainer’s premiership he’s also sitting on 70 wins with 27 in town- testimony to his consistency and attention to detail. He had every reason to drop the ball when he lost a very special horse at the end of August. Instead he ploughed through a difficult period, and got on with the job he was destined to do. Good times ahead for Brad Hewitt.

HOOFNOTE

Brad Hewitt will launch a three pronged attack on Friday’s $100,000 Gr 3 The Bidgee at Wagga’s Riverina Paceway. He’ll drive Palladium from gate 3, Harrison Ross will pilot Forever OnThe Punt from barrier 2 while Nathan Jack has the drive on It’s Confidential from

 

by John Tapp for Harnesslink