David Hewitt ready for more success

Prominent Goulburn trainer David Hewitt is currently enjoying a good run and he’s looking forward to his star filly Sparkling Sea running a much improved race in this Saturday night’s Colin Watts Golden Easter Egg Stakes at Menangle.

Inexplicably at her last start in the Gold Bracelet Final at Bathurst when a hot favourite Sparkling Sea looked flat as she finished only a moderate sixth after having a good run one out in the event. Hewitt added.

It’s hard to explain. She won her Heat really good. However after the race she’s been really good and never eaten better. She worked well this morning having had a nice hit out.

In a small field of seven runners Sparkling Sea has drawn ideally in two but even if she doesn’t lead she can come from behind as we’ve witnessed in previous runs when she come from well back with a devastating burst. If she wins the Golden Easter Egg then she goes straight into the New South Wales Oaks to be run in early May at Menangle.

Hewitt also has Message Bank engaged at Menangle. It was Message Bank who provided Hewitt with his first driving success in a Group 1 when he took out the Gold Crown Final at Bathurst last year.

He was cherry ripe for Bathurst. Somehow later on he lost his confidence during the New South Wales Breeders Challenge and lacked spark.

Two starts back Message Bank won his Heat of the Gold Chalice before finishing sixth in the Final.

He worked nice yesterday. He ran a great race in the Final with his sectionals.

And Hewitt has a point as he only finished seven metres behind the winner. This Saturday at Menangle he’s drawn in barrier eight in a somewhat even field.

Hewitt has certainly had a memorable year. Only two months ago David and his family were named as 2026 Bathurst Gold Crown Honourees joining a select group of outstanding harness racing identities who have been inducted into the Honour Roll since 1990.

It’s a tribute to the achievements of David and his family being quiet but hard working achievers.

However there’s no doubt that for David the emergence of Extreme Sea as a potential star and then the heart breaking circumstances of his suspensory ligament issues that has caused an enforced lay off obviously has occupied him over the last couple of years.

The elder half brother to Sparkling Sea burst on to the scene a few years back but after having lined up on ten occasions has not graced the track since May 2024 when he blew away the opposition in State TAB Regional Final at Menangle.

We’re going to try to get him back towards the end of Winter. We have a 50-50 chance with him. He’s still young enough to make it back to the back so all hope is not lost.

Harness racing fans will also be hoping that Extreme Sea can return to the track as his presence will add to the publicity required for the sport.

In the meantime David should continue to achieve success of sorts with both Sparkling Sea and Message Bank.

By Tony Milanese for Harnesslink