Looking to be the best

Trainer Bernie Hewitt and Jewel Melody.

After a dominant performance in Saturday night’s Australian Pacing Gold Sales Graduate 2YO final at Albion Park, Bathurst filly Jewel Melody has pushed her case for being crowned Australia’s best juvenile when the end of season awards are considered. 

Owned by Wayne and Julie Loader, the Brisbane victory was her third Group 1 feature win in the space of four months and took her earnings to almost $250,000 from 10 race starts.

Driven a treat by her trainer Bernie Hewitt, Jewel Melody toyed with her rivals, scoring by 19 metres after leading them a merry dance and reeling off a slick 55.6 second last half. 

“She was very impressive on Saturday,” Hewitt said. 

“Admittedly we did get an easy time in the first half, but it was the way she reeled off those last two quarters against a quality field that impressed the most.”

“I am wary that with every big race that she contests there could be another nice filly that could sneak up on us.”

“But she keeps rising to the occasion on the big stage and that is all we can ask of her.”

Being bred in the Sunshine State, Jewel Melody’s next assignment will be the Group 1 Qbed Triad final in a months’ time. 

Jewel Melody is the top seed for the Qbed series which affords her automatic qualification into the final, giving Hewitt the opportunity to keep his filly fresh.

“You will not see her at the races now until that Triad final.”

“She will have a trial or two to keep her sharp, but I am confident that she can maintain her fitness.”

While Bernie has been campaigning in Queensland, the task of running his Georges Plains base has been left in the capable hands of his sons Jason and Doug and the boys have not let him down. 

Since he has been up north, the stable has recorded a winning treble and multiple doubles at local tracks, the most recent being at Parkes last Friday night. 

“It is a team effort at home and the boys are doing a fantastic job in my absence. They are both capable horsemen in their own right.”

Team Hewitt has eight runners engaged at Bathurst tonight and will be looking to continue their impressive strike rate with Tom The Curious chasing back to back wins in race five.