Brad Hewitt and Josh Stapleton.
One of the best reinsmen to have ever hailed from Goulburn is both proud and excited to be taking on some of the world’s best drivers in the Ultimate Driver Championship; a 20-race series at Albion Park in Brisbane this Friday and Saturday night (February 21 & 22).
Brad Hewitt who turned 34 last Friday (February 14) said it was an honour to line up against five of his fellow countrymen, plus two other drivers from New Zealand, and one each from Sweden and Canada.
Hewitt is fresh from his most successful season in 17 years of driving, where he trained and reined the Interdominion Trotting Grand Final winner, The Locomotive. In doing so he also surpassed $1 million in stake-money for the first time, and also racked up a personal best 99 triumphs in 2024. The majority of his $1.49m in purses came via two group Ones, a group Two and three Listed Class events.
The Locomotive & Hollywood Hewitt race clear to win the 2024 Inter Dominion Trotters Final
“Winning Group One events is the ultimate goal, but I’m not going to Brisbane for a laugh. I’m going to win it. The Series means a lot to me and I’m thankful to my mates and slot holders in ‘The Triple Play Syndicate’, who nominated me and made this all possible,” Hewitt said.
“Goulburn has produced some really good reinsmen over the years like my Uncle Neil (Day), who represented Australia at the 2013 World Driving Championships in France. I would love to win this for my family, the Goulburn region, and Australia,” Hewitt said.
Neil Day & family (Source Goulburn Post)
The 10 nominated reinsmen will compete for $250,000 in prize-money. The slot holders, who nominated them, stand to win $100,000, and various place-getter-money right down to $5,000 for 6th to 10th place. They can also earn $1,000 for winning each of the 20 races in the series.
Slot holders selected both the drivers and horses to compete in each race. Drivers will receive points throughout the 20 races based on finishing position, with the slot holder/driver who accrues the most points declared the winner.
Hewitt spoke as he was about to board a plane to Brisbane with two members of the ‘Triple Play Syndicate’ which paid the $20,000 nomination fee for him to enter. They were spokesman, Josh Stapleton, and former NRL player, Jarrod Croker, who oversees the finances. Hewitt’s wife, Milly, who is also a Syndicate member, will fly to Brisbane later in the week,
The Syndicate comprises 11 members. The other eight are: Hewitt himself; another former Canberra NRL player Sam Williams; Greg Croker (Jarrod’s father); Tim Croker (relation); Blake Hewitt (relative); Al Wicks; Mick Reid; and Steve Jones.
“It’s money well spent to highlight someone we really believe in. For me it’s very special. Brad has been my best mate since childhood and both him and his family got me involved in this great sport. I even got my trials licence because of them, and I now am a proud Goulburn Harness Racing Club Committee member,” Stapleton said.
Although not fond of his nickname bestowed upon him by his ‘Triple Play’ mates, ‘Hollywood Hewitt’ said he wanted to put his name up in lights again at Queensland’s premier harness racing track.
“I’ve won some big races up there before, and I like competing at their Carnivals, so I know all about the track and how to win races. It all comes down to who and where we draw,” Hewitt said.
In fact, Hewitt nailed the third of his six Group One victories at Albion Park when he trained and drove Majestic Trio to win the $100,000 Queensland Trotters Cup at ‘The Creek’ on January 23, 2023. He also trained and drove Our Triple Play to win the Group Three 4yo Championship there on July 21, 2018.
“Winning this would cap off a great 12 months, and I’ve still got two-time Group One winner and ‘The Triple Play Syndicate’-owned Captains Knock (1:48.4) who will hopefully qualify for next month’s (March 8) Miracle Mile. The Locomotive (1:51.6), is also nominated for the trotting race that same night. It would be great to return home on Sunday with that trophy and winning cheque,” Hewitt said.
“I’d love to repay the faith that the ‘Syndicate’ has put in me. It’s going to be a great thrill proving myself against some of the best reinsmen in the world, and deep down I know I’m up to it,” the father of two – Ruby (5) and Billy (3), said.
Hewitt has won 797 of his 4,279 starts since taking out his driver’s licence in the 2007-2008 season. He has also placed 1,202 times and netted $8,447,527 in stake-money.
For the record, Hewitt is the oldest of four siblings to David and Maree. He has twin brothers Scott and Sam, and a sister Jessica, who are all involved in harness racing.
Hewitt’s drives and form for Friday and Saturday night after the draws were made in Brisbane today (Thursday were):
FRIDAY:
R1: s1232 – CAPTAINS PICK (7).
R2: 25481 – KATACHA MAN (10).
R3: 83853 – THE TIGER ARMY (6).
R4: 16815 – GOODTIME CRACKER (7).
R5: 62641 – MISS HATTIE (8).
R6: 19457 – ONE CHAIN ROAD (3).
R7: 88743 – MAMMALS DESTINY (3).
R8: 71681 – SHADYS DELIGHT (11).
R9: 22524 – VOLTAIN (2).
R10: 7s4 – OUR ULTIMATE LOIS (2).
SATURDAY:
R1: 200s7- ROCKS OR DIAMONDS (1).
R2: 21243 – OUR INDIFFERENCE (1).
R3: 23131 – LUVBITE (8).
R4: 47431 – TIMS A TROOPER (7).
R5: 51858 – KING OF TRUMP (1).
R6: 71310 – LARA TIARA (3).
R7: 01479 – LIFE OF ART (6).
R8: 517s7 – SKY BLU (7).
R9: 73387 – KOWHAI BLAZE (11).
R10: 22235 – FIREBOLT (8).
The opening fixed odds market (December) for the inaugural Ultimate Drivers Championship are listed below. The current odds were suspended when this story went to print:
Dexter Dunn (New Zealand – Ladbrokes) $4.80; Gary Hall Jr (Australia – The Gloucester Park Gurus) $6; Nathan Dawson (Australia – The First Over Crush Syndicate) $6; Pete McMullen (Australia – The Unharnessed Hawks Syndicate) $6; Kate Gath (Australia – The Gath Racing Group Supporting Team Teal Syndicate) $9; Yannick Gingras (Canada – The ABR/Summit Bloodstock, Ron Burke, Weaver Bruscemi Syndicate) $7; BRAD HEWITT (Australia – ‘THE TRIPLE PLAY SYNDICATE’) $9; Angus Garrard (Australia – The Sen, Garrards, and 1Equine Syndicate) $12; Bjorn Goop (Sweden – The Tumby Park syndicate) $12; Carter Dalgety (New Zealand – The N40 Racing and The Boys Get Paid Syndicate) $15.
