Hewitt’s patience gets Sparkling Sea home

A copybook drive by Brad Hewitt was able to get promising filly Sparkling Sea (Lather Up) home in taking out the Group 3 Ultra Air JL Raith Memorial at Menangle on Saturday evening.

A winner of four of her race career of six starts Sparkling Sea was solidly supported but there were reservations about her wide draw. Again as in previous races there was a furious early battle for the lead with Im On No Sleep leading.

Ripples was caught wide early while the Queensland filly Havtimetodream after being settled down went around the field to take up the running. Ripples was having a torrid run outside the leader. Meanwhile Sparkling Sea was taken back to the rear by her driver Brad Hewitt but not that far behind as they negotiated the final bend.

Despite being very wide Sparkling Sea finished too well to overhaul Havtimetodream to end up winning comfortably by over four metres from Havtimetodream with Ripples a gallant third. Not many fillies could come from that far back as Sparkling Sea did in her Raith Memorial win.

SPARKLING SEA 14 MAR REPLAY

She is now emerging as a serious Oaks prospect in May.

Havtimetodream fought on well and she has shown that she is up to the leading coterie of three year old fillies.

Similarly Ripples was brave in coming home third and no doubt trainer driver Luke McCarthy will get her right in her future assignments.

Hewitt has a big opinion of Sparkling Sea as he shared his views after the race

Obviously drawn out wide I was intent on heading forward early but every other runner wanted to do the same thing. So I had to change plans and lucky enough the first half was quite solid. She still a great job to pick them up. I had such a great run with Extreme Sea nearly two years ago. But she’s another one She has plenty of talent, and I am sure she is going to be in all the big races as well.

“She has plenty of talent, and I am sure she is going to be in all the big races.”✨

After Sparkling Sea sparkled to victory in the Group 3 Ultra Air J L Raith Memorial, we heard from driver Brad Hewitt about the win.@HRNSW_Harness pic.twitter.com/RWDRcynDK3

— Club Menangle (@ClubMenangle) March 14, 2026

For complete Menangle race results, click here.

by Tony Milanese, for Harnesslink