South African champion jockey Lyle Hewitson has his first competitive experience of the tricky Happy Valley track when he takes fives rides today on his return to action following a two week suspension.
Lyle Hewitson (photo: JC Photos)
Hewitson picked up a fourteen day ban when the NHRA stipes adjudged him not to have given Believethisbeauty a satisfactory ride at Fairview on 12 April 2019.
He subsequently appealed the ban but withdrew the protest on the final day of the South African racing season.
But the perfectly legitimate exercising of his rights in terms of the NHRA process, and attempting to obtain a reduced sanction, came back to haunt him when he was forced to do the time just two meetings into his maiden Hong Kong campaign. That was a blow.
In typically industrious fashion, Hewitson chose to ride work each morning of his suspension term, rather than return home or take a holiday.
The young jockey is obviously wound up for his return and while none of his five rides on Wednesday are drawn closer than eight, he should be watched as a man on a mission.
