Roger Hewitt continues to make his presence felt
Roger Hewitt is slowly but surely making his presence felt as an apprentice rider among the top jockeys.
Already this season young Hewitt has ridden eight winners, including a double on the 12-race programme at Caymanas Park on Saturday.
Numbering 11 overall in a career which started on September 29, 2012, Hewitt has been looking much better in the saddle and has been riding with a lot of patience, determination and confidence, and that seems to be doing the job.
Hewitt’s winners on Saturday were Big Black Nation in an Optional Claiming ($250,000-$200,000) event over six furlongs (1,200m), and Awesome Glitter in a maiden condition race over seven furlongs (1,400m).
Owned and trained by Raymond Townsend, Big Black Nation ( Sorrentino – Reggae Nation) got a good break from a level start and was up with the pace a bit before backing out to fourth place, as the runners made their way towards the final bend.
Jamaican Citizen (Ameth Robles) turned for home and looked all set for victory, but Hewitt produced his mount late and Big Black Nation got rolling inside the final half furlong (100m) and came home by 1 ½ lengths. Jamaican Citizen came home in second place, with Photogenic (Daniel Satchell) getting third place with a final time of 1:15.2 minutes.
Hewitt was just as effective aboard Awesome Glitter ( Deputy Glitter – Victreebel), who made every post a winning one in the native-bred three-year-old event by an ever-increasing 5 ¼ lengths in a good time of 1:28.2 minutes.
Running with first-time Lasix, Hewitt got Awesome Glitter out of the starting gates and held the lead over Will To Live (Mathew Bennett), Smooth Criminal (Hakeem Pottinger) and Black Royalty (Jemar Jackson).
Approaching the half mile, Awesome Glitter slowed the tempo a bit and allowed Black Royalty to cut into the lead with Candlelight (Prince Holder). But when Hewitt stepped on the gas approaching the distance, Awesome Glitter responded by sprinting off for a comfortable victory in the end.
Smooth Criminal rallied to get second place ahead of Black Royalty and Private Quest (Daniel Satchell) in fourth place.
