Doug Hewitt misses out narrowly on Group 3 glory but claims winning treble of Dubbo drives

Hewitt came within a half head of guiding Make Mine Heaven to a win in the Group 3 Success Stud Ladyship Pace (1,609 metres) at Menangle on Saturday, for what would have been his second success at that level.

But he picked up a reasonable consolation prize the next day, driving Infinity Beach and Rock Fisherman to victory for his father Bernie before steering Josh Turnbull's Bell River Boy to a shock victory.

Former Young Pacers Cup champion Make Mine Heaven managed to eventually find some clean air down the closing stretch in Saturday's feature event on the metro track.

The Rock N Roll Heaven mare had been searching for a path around leader Renegade Rose and eventually got there with 50 metres to run.

The horse who bested Make Mine Heaven at Menangle a week earlier, Dracarys, loomed close but didn't have the legs to run down Make Mine Heaven and things were looking promising for Hewitt's runner.

Unfortunately for the Hewitt stable the fast-finishing favourite Bettor Enforce timed her run home to perfection down the outside of the track and edged out Make Mine Heaven.

It was a tough result to take for Hewitt in the driver's seat, knowing full well his horse had what it took to win the $30,000 event.

"The horse has been going massive lately. She ran a 1:51 last week and went close. On Saturday she got checked in running about 50 metres before the line which cost us the race but it was still a massive effort from her," he said.

"It's disappointing not to win it but she's a lovely horse who always puts in 100 per cent. She just didn't have the luck go her way on the night.

"About 100 metres from the line I thought she was going to run straight past them but then I had to checked off Todd McCarthy [on Renegade Rose] whose horse darted outwards. It just didn't happen for us."

Hewitt's fortunes turned around at Dubbo the next day, starting with a win for to-year-old filly Infinity Beach in the opening event, the TAB Odds and Evens 2YO Fillies Pace (1,720m).

Infinity Beach ($3.10) shrugged off a challenge on the home from Mercurius ($4, Justin Reynolds) to win comfortably.

Rock Fisherman then saluted as a $2.60 favourite in the Lester Coffee Memorial (1,720m).

Hewitt was in an awkward position behind leader Whiskiesonthebeach on the bend for home but Cloudin Up galloped from the death seat and provided Rock Fisherman with plenty of fresh air to make his charge.

The most surprising win of the three came on $9.50 shot Bell River Boy who blitzed the field in the Garrads Rio Meteor Gig Final (2,120m) by nearly 20 metres.

The three-year-old gelding looked like he was having a leisurely stroll as he extended his lead easily with every stride across the final lap.

"Josh said on those tracks if you've got a bit of gate speed you're better off going for it. It took us a bit longer to get there than we wanted to but once he got there he settled straight away and went super," Hewitt said.