Forever Onthe Punt on a roll ahead of Breeders Challenge final

Former Western District trained pacer Forever Onthe Punt is proving to be one of the most progressive and in-form horses of his grade.

Now trained at Goulburn by Brad Hewitt for Grenfell breeder and owner Courtney Day, the bold running harness racing gelding will contest Saturday night’s Nutrien Equine NSW Breeders Challenge Final for four-year-old entries and geldings at Menangle.

He heads into the race on the back of an impressive hat-trick of metropolitan wins for his new stable.

Forever Onthe Punt has shown plenty of promise since winning on debut back in March last year when being trained by Michael Day who won four races with him.

Following a spell, the Day family decided to send him to Michael’s younger cousin Brad to see what he could do in city company – a move that is paying off in spades.

Last week in the semi-final of the Breeders Challenge, Forever Onthe Punt turned in a personal best time when defeating a quality field, stopping the clock at 1:50.3 for the mile to score by three metres over the fast-finishing Seasider.

Early this week luck fell on the side for connections when their charge drew in gate two for Saturday night’s $50,000 feature.

“He has been racing so well since joining our stable,” said Hewitt.

“Mick and Courtney had done a great job with him and sent him here in great nick.

“He was ready to go for us and all we had to do is simply keep him ticking over.

“The horse is enjoying his time racing at the big track and the best part of it all is the way that he keeps stepping up to the mark, especially coming through the first two wins at Menangle and then into the Breeders semi.

“We knocked over a good field there last week and hopefully he can do it again.

“I was pleased to see him draw in gate two which will certainly aid his chances and give us plenty of options with even luck.”

 

by Michael Dumesny, for HRNSW