Hewitt draws well to defend The Bidgee

Palladium NZ (Bettors Delight – Platinum) gives harness racing trainer-driver Brad Hewitt a strong hand as he chases back-to-back wins in The Bidgee at Riverina Paceway on Friday night.

Hewitt won last year’s inaugural running with Captains Knock, who edged out Don Hugo, with Max Delight third, in a track record mile rate of 1:52.7 for the 2800m. A year on, the race has grown from a $60,000 Listed Classic into a $100,000 Group 3 and opens the 2026-27 Harness Racing NSW Carnival of Cups. It closes a strong Wagga card that also features the $75,000 TAB Regional Championship Final for the Riverina.

Hewitt has three runners this time. Queensland Derby winner Palladium has drawn barrier two on the front line, with stablemate Forever Onthe Punt, runner-up in the NSW Breeders Challenge final for four-year-old entires and geldings, inside him at barrier one. The pair will begin from the two inside gates provided second emergency Octagonise does not gain a start. Its Confidential, the stable’s third runner, has drawn barrier five.

Palladium had a short break after his Group 1 win at Albion Park in July and has been building since. He ran second in the Carousel final at Menangle, won a heat of the Victoria Derby at Melton on October 10 and was back in the winner’s circle at Menangle last Saturday night. The stable believes the let-up after Queensland made a big difference.

“Since the break he had after it, he’s come back a different horse,” Hewitt said.

Friday’s task is a step up again for the Hewitt pair, who meet a group of seasoned open class pacers over 2800m.

The TAB has Nyack as its $2.80 favourite, even though the James Rattray trained and driven pacer starts from barrier six on the second row, the outside of the field. Nyack finished second to Captains Mistress in the Group 1 SEN Victoria Cup at Melton on October 17. In July, he ran third behind Captains Mistress and Leap To Fame in the Inter Dominion final at Albion Park.

“We felt we had him as good as ever going into the series,” Rattray said.

Our Sunset Delight, third in that Victoria Cup, starts from barrier one on the second row for trainer Jason Grimson and driver Nathan Jack.

Max Delight returns to Wagga after his third behind Captains Knock last year. The David Aiken trained veteran won the $1.25 million Group 1 The Nullarbor at Gloucester Park in April and has drawn barrier four on the second row with Will Rixon driving. TAB has him at $5, just behind Palladium at $4.80.

Grimson also saddles up Hesitate, third in last year’s TAB Eureka, who has joined his stable and will be driven by Jye Coney. At 2800m, Friday’s race is further than Hesitate has raced before. He is on the second row in barrier two at $6.

South Australian Pacing Cup runner-up Forty Love, trained and driven by Aaron Dunn, starts from barrier three on the second row, with Michael Stanley’s Ubetcha Tigerpie in barrier five. The front line is completed by Jake Stockton’s Ima Boxa, the James Rattray trained Magic Joe and Amanda Turnbull’s Seasider.
The Bidgee is set down for 9.10pm on Friday night.

Stay up to date with the latest in harness racing with HarnessLink, including featured coverage of The Eureka

 

From Harnesslink Media