THERE are not many things that could convince Bathurst Panthers coach Doug Hewitt to give up a game of rugby league with his men, in fact if you take injury out of the equation there's probably only one thing.
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That's a horse called The Mustang.
It's a horse that Hewitt, who is also involved in the harness racing industry, left the Bathurst Nines rugby league tournament early to drive at Menangle Park last Saturday night.
As a result of The Mustang placing third in that race as a rank $126 outsider, it's a horse that Hewitt will now drive in the biggest race of his career - the $200,000 Group 1 Chariots Of Fire.
"I can't wait, far out it's the biggest race I've ever been in," Hewitt said.
Though Panthers, who Hewitt steers around from halfback, are chasing a third consecutive Group 10 premier league crown this season, he has never before won at Group 1 level.
Hewitt's only Group win was aboard Scarlett Babe in the 2019 Group 3 Red Ochre Mares Classic Final, but when it comes to the horse he's found the most success with it's The Mustang.
Of the gelding's 13 career wins, 12 have come with him in the gig and while he knows adding to that in Saturday night's Chariots Of Fire will be tough - The Mustang is currently rated a $71 chance - Hewitt still has faith.
He drew barrier six and with the second emergency in one, The Mustang will almost certainly go from barrier five in the 1,609 metres feature.
"The thing is all the favourites have draw out wide and if they have to do too much work it could be set up for a swooper in the end," Hewitt said. "If you land somewhere nice and handy and you get a chance late, like he's a horse that has got an unreal turn of foot.
"Like everyone always doubts him and he's always way over the odds, but that doesn't faze me these days with him because he's always in the race.
"Like we went to Melbourne and he was paying $26 and he blew them away down there, that was in the consolation. Just things like that, he just keeps on fighting. I love this horse."
The Chariots Of Fire starts at 9.42pm.
