Trainer-driver Bernie Hewitt. Photo by Club Menangle
BATHURST trainer Bernie Hewitt is optimisticthat his two talentedfour-year-olds Our Goat and Royal Cruiser have done enough to catch the attention of slot holders for the $2.1m TAB Eureka which is looming fast, scheduled for September 6.
The pair have been racing in Queensland during the past few months and on Saturday night at Albion Park they brought their best to the track with explosive performances which must enhance their chances of gaining a Eureka slot.
Our Goat has come on in leaps and bounds since progressing out of age racing and he showed his undeniable brilliance after running the arm from gate five and carving out electrifyingfractions to record a 1:50.3 mile rating for the 1660m trip.
Driven by Nathan Dawson, it was the gelding’s fourth win in his current Queensland campaign and the 12th in his 45-start career.
Royal Cruiser was equally impressive, his driver Brendan Barnes adopting similar tactics to Dawson by leading throughout from gate two and smashing the clock over the 2138m journey, rating 1:51.9, which was only three hundredths of a second outside Leap To Fame’s track record.
In an interview with Greg Hayes on the Harness Racing New South Wales' award-winning podcast ‘The Sprint Lane,’ Hewitt spoke excitedly about the way both pacers acquitted themselves andconfirmed that they would soon return home and continue forging a path towards being chosen to contest the Eureka.
“They both went awesome up in Brisbane on Saturday night, and they are holding their form nicely as they head toward a possible start in the Eureka,” said Hewitt.
“I came home from Queensland, but my wife Cath stayed there with them.
“Nathan Dawson drove Our Goat and Brendan Barnes was on Royal Cruiser, and both boys were full of praise for each horse’s effort.
“We will just try and place them suitably over the next few weeks at Menangle and see what happens.
“I think slot holders could do a lot worse than have a look at both of them.”
