By Jack Dawling
Lyle Hewitson is in the midst of his best month of the season and he hopes to keep the momentum rolling for the remainder of the campaign after becoming a father earlier this week.
The South African rider has claimed seven wins at a 10 percent strike rate in the last month, a record that can be upgraded considering five of those successes have come aboard gallopers with double-figure odds, including victories at 31-to-one and 28-to-one.
While it has been an exciting month for Hewitson in the saddle, it has also been a significant time for his family, as he and his wife, Hannah, welcomed their first child.
Talking to The Standard after he steered Glory B home at Happy Valley on Wednesday night, Hewitson said the new addition to his family has given him a new lease of life.
“He watched his Dad ride his first winner at Happy Valley on Wednesday so hopefully I can keep delivering for him – nappies are expensive,” he said with a laugh. “It’s great to end the season on a high. It’s been a pretty slow season by my standards so it’s important to be finishing well and setting myself up to start next season in good shape.”
Hewitson claimed his 26th win of the season at the city track on Wednesday – still 14 short of his tally for the 2023-24 campaign – and said that suspensions have halted progress throughout the campaign.
“All three occasions when I’ve got my suspensions this season is when I’d been riding well and may have ridden a double or whatnot,” Hewitson said. “As soon as I thought I’d get the ball rolling, I’ve been on the sideline. “But, that being said, hopefully we can keep kicking for the last month or so this season.”
In his bid to keep the ball rolling, he is quietly confident the Mark Newnham-trained Armour War Eagle can give a good account in race 11 at Sha Tin on Saturday.
Hewitson was aboard Armour War Eagle for his latest win in March and hopes a recent break has left the galloper in good shape.
“I’m actually really looking forward to riding him because I think he runs well fresh,” Hewitson said. “I haven’t drawn well all weekend so it depends how the track plays and if there’s bad weather around.”
While Armour War Eagle has been dealt draw 11 in the finale over 1,400 meters, Hewitson’s other ride for Newnham on the card will have to overcome even wider when Bull Attitude jumps from stall 14 in race five.
“For him, I think the draw might be a big factor because I don’t know if he’s tough enough to be put under pressure from the start to get a handy spot,” Hewitson added.
