Lyle Hewitson removed luck from the equation aboard Highland Rahy and the rider found a willing partner as Francis Lui’s galloper secured a first Hong Kong win in the Class 4 Ireland Trophy Handicap at Happy Valley on Wednesday.
Successful in Ireland pre-import, Highland Rahy fired to an uncontested lead under Hewitson from barrier seven and never looked back, clutching onto a three quarter length victory over a ground-making Viva Graciousness in the HK$1.17 million feature race.
Highland Rahy powers home under Lyle Hewitson (Pic – HKJC)
“I think he’s (Highland Rahy) found a mark now where he should be winning and it’s probably been frustrating that he hasn’t,” Hewitson said. “He showed how he wants to race – he wants to roll, pick up and just build into it.”
Gearing up to ride Steps Ahead in the HK$26 million 148th BMW Hong Kong Derby on Sunday week, Hewitson lifted his haul to 16 wins this season, also riding a double last Sunday at Sha Tin.
Following a recent near miss atop Highland Rahy, the 27-year-old jockey was delighted to repay connections with breakthrough success on the American-bred gelding tonight.
“He’s happy to sit one off but he needs to roll the whole way and we saw that, a horse came to him, although far away from him to get up to almost level, but he fought on again. It’s an overdue win and I’m happy I could stick aboard to do it,” Hewitson said.
A delighted Lyle Hewitson after a great ride (Pic – HKJC)
Three times South Africa’s leading rider, Hewitson teams with Lui and the 83-rated Steps Ahead in the BMW Hong Kong Derby – the third and final leg of the three-race HK$52 million Four-Year-Old Classic Series – at Sha Tin in 11 days’ time.
“I think his (Steps Ahead) rating is pretty true of where he is in the field but he’s the most genuine horse and he’s probably one of the most versatile, too,” Hewitson said. “This will be stretching him but against his own age group and being such an easy and versatile horse, it gives him every chance.”
A shot at once-in-a-lifetime glory awaits 14 horses in Hong Kong’s most-prized race, which is expected to be headed by Rubylot and My Wish – winners of the first two Four-Year-Old Classic Series legs. The selected BMW Hong Kong Derby field will be announced this Friday, 14 March.
Hong Kong racing continues at Sha Tin this Saturday 15 March.
