Trainer-driver Brad Hewitt with The Locomotive. Photo by Club Menangle
GOULBURN horseman Brad Hewitt could barely hide his disappointment when his stable star The Locomotive received a horror draw for one of the world’s great trotting races The Elitlopp, in Sweden this weekend.
Yet Hewitt may still come home smiling if another of his stable up-and-comers, five-year-old pacer Horn Player can win Saturday night’s $100,000 State Final of the TAB Regional Championships at Tabcorp Park Menangle.
Horn Player was an impressive winner of the Metropolitan Regional Championships last weekend.
And with Brad already in Sweden, it was his father David who took the reins and will be in the sulky again looking for a winning feature double with Horn Player.
Ironically Brad partnered Extreme Sea, trained by David, to win last year’s final but the role reversal didn’t bother either man as Horn Player could scarcely have been more impressive last weekend, beating Tomahawk Bart (Seaton Grima) and Duggee Sloy (Jack Callaghan) by 3.2m in a 1:54.3 mile rate over the 2300m.
On Saturday night, he has a similar draw and despite possessing good gate speed, can expect some early challenge from those drawn to his inside.
“I got this horse late last year and he had a throat operation and was a rig as well. So, he really copped the double there,” said Brad in a link call from Sweden.
“But even before he trialled, his previous trainer Mat Rue had done a terrific job with him.
“I told the owners I thought he was above average – and that was at the start of the year.
“The last few weeks he has shown what he can do.
“Thankfully, the owners have been patient and it’s really great when a plan can come together and you can win a good money race with a horse like this.”
Meanwhile harness fans around Australia will watch with bated breath when runners score up in Sunday night's heats of the $US1m Elitlopp.
The Locomotive will start second from the outside (gate seven) in the second of two heats of the world’s best trotting race, at the Solvalla track in Stockholm.
The Locomotive has been rated a $71 shot in his heat and needs a top four finish to qualify for the final three hours later.
“That draw’s not ideal but off his work and how he felt, well, he has worked as good if not better than he does at home,” said Hewitt.
