Lyle Hewitson, the 18-year-old apprentice who has ridden himself into the hearts of punters (and trainers), in recent months, has picked up his first Vodacom Durban July ride.
Lyle Hewitson
Hewitson has been declared to ride Dynamic for Justin Snaith’s stable, one of four runners to represent the former Champion Trainer in the 2016 renewal of South Africa’s greatest race.
Hewitson, in only his first year as an apprentice, has racked up 50 winners in quick-fire mode, losing his 4kg claim and his 2,5kg claim in just a few weeks. He will weigh out at 55,5kg on the big day and will go into the Number One Starting Gate just before Dynamic makes his bid for glory.
Hewitson told Turf Talk on Tuesday afternoon: “Mr Snaith has helped me a lot this season, I rode a Graded winner for him in Port Elzabeth and he’s been supporting me with rides ever since. I will be going down to Cape Town to ride in four features for him on Saturday.
“I’ve been riding work for the Snaith stable at Summerveld and I was told a week ago that I would be riding Dynamic in the Durban July if he was accepted to race, but it’s only hit home now. It’s surreal, it’s a wonderful feeling and something I wouldn’t have believed possible at the start of 2016. I am excited.”
Dynamic wins the Premier Trophy
Hewitson said there had been no talk of tactics yet and commented: “That will only happen in the run-up to the race. I think Dynamic has an outside chance, I have ridden him in work and he’s a nice horse. He is well drawn and has good Gr2 form. From that draw one would like to race handy, perhaps bowl along in front. But it’s not for me to say, Mr Snaith has three others in the race and they will all have to be taken into consideration.”
Hewitson said that he believes in sticking to the basics. “I have had early success but I have tried to keep level-headed. I look back 50 winners ago and I know I am a better rider than I was then. I have learnt a lot and I’ve grown in confidence but I want to do even better and that can only come with race riding. I’ve lost my big weight claims, but I’ve also been given a chance to sit on better horses which has kept me winning consistently.”
www.turftalk.co.za
