A HALF HEAD - that is all that stood between Gemma Hewitt and her maiden Group 1 win as a trainer on Saturday night.
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Hewitt watched on trackside at the Bathurst Paceway as Kashed Up - with her father Bernie Hewitt in the gig - stormed home in the $100,000 Gold Chalice Final for three-year-old colts and geldings.
He had travelled on the back of leader and $2.80 favourite Idyllic, was some six metres off the pace as they hit the top of the home straight, then unleashed a burst of speed down the inside.
Kashed Up came close, but not quite close enough.
But the Georges Plains trainer could still manage a smile given the mighty effort of her talented gelding. If the 1,730 metres final been just a little bit longer, she thinks the Group 1 trophy would have been in her hands.
"He's a gorgeous horse, he had the dream run and everything went his way, he was very close," she said.
"Ten more metres, yeah, I think he would have got there. He's been taking awhile to wind up lately and if it was a little bit further I think he would've got there."
Kashed Up had qualified for the Gold Crown Final as a two-year-old 12 months earlier - he ran sixth in that - and while he is yet to win this season, Hewitt feels he has developed into an even better horse.
The For A Reason x Laughing Lilly gelding came from five back on the pegs at the 400m mark to run a handy fourth in the Group 1 NSW Derby earlier this month as a $101 outsider.
That effort and what came on Saturday indicates a big feature win could be headed Hewitt's way soon.
If Kashed Up can win a Group 1 race, Hewitt would add to an already proud family record.
Her father Bernie Hewitt is a two-times Group 1 winning trainer-driver while her uncles Mark and David Hewitt plus cousin Brad Hewitt have also enjoyed Group 1 success.
On top of that Gemma Hewitt's brother Doug Hewitt has twice driven a Group 3 winner.
"This season he's just really stepped it up. Competing in the NSW Derby then to run second in the big one here tonight, it looks like we're going to have a really fun year," Hewitt said.
"I'd say we will head to Queensland in the winter for the derbies now I'd say. I was so proud of him."
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