By Duane Ranger (courtesy of Redcliffe Paceway)
Gemma Hewitt’s keen eye for quality horseflesh resulted in a minor milestone for the 31-year-old at Redcliffe Paceway late on Thursday afternoon (October 5).
After driving and $1.60 favourite, Keayang Marven, to his third straight victory in her hometown of Bathurst on May 19, 2021, Hewitt was pleased with her purchase of the son of Roll With Joe.
Fast forward two years and five months later Hewitt has trained Keayang Marven, this time as the $1.80 favourite to win his 15th victory at his 100th start in race six at ‘The Triangle’ – the AQWA Construction Up-To-NR70-Pace.
The 6-year-old gelding, who was driven by Brendan Barnes, landed the one-one from gate nine, and then got up by a neck. He was bred by the Craven family in Victoria.
“He’s just such a lovely horse, who is super consistent. I’m so pleased he won his 100th race, because even though he’s not quite at the top of the tree in my stable, he’s a nice horse, who has now won almost $130,000 ($129,377) in stakes.
“He won at Bendigo on debut (April 7, 2021) and Ararat (April 20), and then I bought him off Jason & Marg Lee, after having success with previous purchase Keayang Kreuzer for valuable clients – Wayne & Julie Loader.
The New South Wales native, who relocated to Stockleigh in (Logan – Queensland) just over two years, came north with four horses in 2021 – one of which was Keayang Marven, and another was Keayang Kreuzer.
As a result, she still hasn’t gone home, and has no intention of doing so.
“Queensland is home now. I work a team of 11 here, and I’m very happy here.” Hewitt said.
Her only Group One victory to date came at Bathurst Paceway on May 19, 2021, when the Hewitt trained, and Luke McCarthy driven Keayang Kreuzer nailed the $100,000 TAB Regional Championships – Western Final. Again, he was favourite – $1.85 this time.
Hewitt has also secured a Group Two with Kashed Up in ‘The Queensland Sun Pace’ on July 2 at Albion Park last year; a Group Three with Kashed Up in the Western Region 2yo colts and geldings Final at Wagga on November 20, 2020; and two Listed events – Kash Us Back in the TAB Regional Championship State Consolation at Menangle on May 29, 2021; and Joe’s Joy in the Gold Tiara Consolation at Bathurst on May 29, 2019.
Those achievements have all come as a trainer since taking out her licence in 2012-2013. In that time Hewitt has conditioned 238 winners, 426 place-getters and has netted $2.01 million in stakes money in 1,469 starts.
In the sulky Hewitt has reined 53 winners from 431 drives since 2019-2020, and has also placed 106 times for $459,149 in stakes.
“I used to drive the Mini Trotters, but I’ve always preferred the training side of the business where I get to work closely with the animal. I was training for 10 years before I started driving.
“Training is just something I prefer to do. I’ll drive if I have to, but at Redcliffe I prefer to give others a drive, because it can be a tricky track when you are not used to it,” Hewitt said.
She said the best horse she had trained was the For A Reason gelding, Kashed Up (1:52.2), who won 12 of his 54 starts and $288,554 before selling him to America where he continues to race.
“He was a lovely horse and gave me a lot of success. I feel blessed to have bred, owned, trained and drive such a talented horse. As for now I’d say Make Mine Memphis is the top seed in my stable. He’s nominated for the Interdominion Championship here later in the year, and is currently ranked 45, but I’m hopeful he can make the final 36.
“He has won 16 races ($266,084) and has recorded a 1:53.3 mile. He placed in the Group Two Redcliffe Gold Cup in June and will be back racing in a month or so.
A self-admitted ‘Daddy’s Girl’, Hewitt is the only daughter of Bernie and Cathy. She has one older brother Jason, and a younger brother named Doug.
“Dad taught me everything I know, and even though I’m a fifth generation Hewitt to be undertaking harness racing for a living, it’s been Dad who has taught me everything. He has been my mentor and teacher.
“I miss Mum and Dad and the family a lot, but Queensland is home now, and I really look forward to seeing them each year when they campaign there horses annually for three months,” Hewitt said.
All three of the Hewitt siblings and their father drove in a race at Dubbo in race seven at Dubbo on September 8, 2020, with Bernie and Doug dead-heating behind Imajoyride and Beta Jewel respectively, with Jason fourth on Ulaanbaatar, and Gemma sixth on Somethingaboutlexy.
Don’t let that result fool you though. Even though Hewitt prefers training, she won her first two race-day starts at Bathurst on September 2, 2020, behind the pacer she trained Kash Us Back in race four and then the Bernie Hewitt trained Lady Swiss in race seven.
Born in Bathurst and educated at Kelso High School, Hewitt worked in administration at the Bathurst Harness Racing Club when she left school. She also trained a few and casually done some disability support work.
“I’ve always been around horses since day one and I’ve always been close to Dad and watching what he does. I wouldn’t have it any other way. I don’t think I’d swap this life for a 9-5 job.
“I prefer the lifestyle and weather up here. For now, this is home.” Hewitt said.
