THE Bernie Hewitt trained and driven Big On Bling delivered on his promising early career form on Wednesday night at Dubbo Paceway as the three-year-old gelding collected his first ever victory.
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After finishing fourth and fifth in his first two career races, Big On Bling ($2 favourite) battled with Angela Hedges, on board the Nathan Hurst-trained Flight Express, for the majority of the race but had too much class, winning in the end by two metres.
“He drew well tonight and I thought if he was up the front end he’d take a bit of beating,” Georges Plains trainer-driver Hewitt said after the win.
“He’s had two runs against better opposition and those were both good runs so I was pretty confident he’d do well tonight.”
After starting the $3000 TAB Three Year Old Pace at a casual speed, it was clear early it was going to be a battle between two as Big On Bling sat just off Flight Express.
As they heard the bell for the final lap and approached the back straight, Hewitt made his move and while the two frontrunners went neck and neck around the bend, Hewitt pushed down the straight and was able to ease off as he passed the post.
“He was travelling fairly well and he’s strong. He wanted to run another lap
virtually but he’s a big overgrown horse and just learning the trade, so I just held him together a bit on the bends and in the straights he was quite good, so I’m really happy with him,” Hewitt said.
“I think his future is bright. I think he’ll improve on whatever he does this season as a three-year-old so hopefully he can win a couple of three-year-old races and then we can put him out in the paddock for a spell and let him mature a bit more.”
Hewitt’s win in the second race of the night followed that of Blair Hurst, who stole the headlines with his first career win, but brother Nathan made sure he didn’t miss out on the action by collecting a winning double at the seven-race meeting.
As well as training his younger brother’s winner, the more experienced Hurst drove Gabrielle Solis and Usher to victory in the $3000 Hog Breath Cafe Pace (2120m) and the night’s feature race, the $5000 TAB.COM.AU Pace (1720m) respectively.
Usher ($2.70), who won in Dubbo earlier this year and had 10 career wins from 53 starts leading into the race, led from start to finish to get home ahead of Mitch Turnbull and The Kissing Bandit ($6.70), while the Michael Munro-trained Mortal Enemy finished in third.
