Lyle Hewitson is hoping to capitalize on his strong book of rides and continue his promising start to the season when he hops aboard seven gallopers at Happy Valley tonight.
The South African jockey has recorded nine wins this season from 95 rides and Hewitson is targeting more success at the city track when he teams up with his squad, headlined by the David Hayes-trained Samarkand.
The seven-year-old has been knocking on the door on his past two starts under Hewitson and he jumps from gate one with 135 pounds in the saddle in the fourth race of the evening, a Class 4 contest over 1,650 meters.
“He’s got the big weight, which is probably the only negative,” Hewitson told The Standard. “But I think he’s found the right field, he has a draw to suit him and he’s in good form. He just needs to bring that form to the races again and I think he’ll be the one to beat.”
Samarkand was beaten a length and a half into third on his penultimate and fell narrowly short on November 2 when he finished a short head behind Fantastic Fun.
While Samarkand has been given another two-point rise by the handicapper, Hewitson hopes that won’t be enough to stop the seven-year-old recording his fifth win in Hong Kong.
“I’ve had a good relationship with him,” Hewitson said. “I’ve ridden him in Class 3 at the end of last season and we kept getting close with no cigar, but he’s maintained that form with me this season. I think he’s overdue a win and hopefully we can do that on Wednesday.
“The draw will definitely help. He’s got to carry the big weight but if he comes into this race in the same vein of form as his last starts, I think he’s the right horse for the race.”
Hewitson also teams up with Hayes in race three when Oriental Surprise bids to go one better than his latest runner-up effort at Happy Valley over 1,000m. The five-year-old steps up to 1,200m in the Class 5 contest.
“He ran a nice race over the 1,000 when we weren’t sure if it was going to be a bit sharp for him,” Hewitson said. “The 1200 at Happy Valley seems like it could be the sweet spot for him and as long as we can get him into a good spot, I think that he’ll definitely figure in the finish.
