Another happy chapter of history was written for the Hewitson family at Hollywoodbets Greyville on Monday, when former SA Champion jockey Lyle booted home a first ever winner as a trainer for his former jockey Dad, Carl.
Assistant trainer Rocky Agrella, Lyle and his Dad Carl, celebrate the wonderful moment (Pic – Candiese Lenferna)
The Varsfontein Stud-bred Set The Date carried too many guns in the opener in the colours of well-known Cape owner Bryn Ressell, and stormed to victory at her fifth start, after earning at her first four outings – including two on her original home track of Fairview.
The winning partnership includes stalwarts Hedley McGrath, Braam van Huyssteen and Mark Wright, and it was another fairytale in the Hewitson rise to prominence.
The 56 year old former assistant trainer, who left the Eastern Cape after the closure of the Yvette Bremner yard, saddled his first runner out of his brand new Summerveld base just a month ago.
And he would have been pleased to ‘get the monkey off his back’ as suggested by his proud son, Lyle, on Monday.
Coincidentally, the 23 year old Lyle rode his first ever professional winner on his third book of rides at Fairview on 18 March 2016 aboard Blizzard Belle.
The winner was saddled by Yvette Bremner and the speed demon ran in the silks of his Dad, Carl!
