Happy homecoming for Hewitt in Breeders Challenge heat

The Lady Dior and Brendan Barnes winning at Menangle on Tuesday. Photo by Club Menangle.

IT was a happy homecoming for former Bathurst trainer Gemma Hewitt when classy filly The Lady Dior scored at Menangle on Tuesday.

Hewitt, a member of one of harness racing’s most famous families, was back in town to contest the second round of heats of the New South Wales Breeders Challenge for the two-year-olds.

Hewitt’s filly was able to lead throughout to take out the first heat in the fillies’ division with Brendan Barnes in the gig.

Hewitt, now settled in Queensland, has had her fair share of training and driving winners, among them some handy types and reached 291 wins as a trainer following this success.

The Lady Dior  sizzled around the spacious Menangle Park circuit on Tuesday to bring up her third career win from just six outings, rating a smart 1:52.7 in the process.

After the race, driver Brendan Barnes expressed his satisfaction with the performance, pleased at how well the filly coped with her first look at Menangle.

“She went super, to be honest,” said Barnes.

“I really had to use her off the arm to find the lead, putting behind a slick 26.7s first quarter, but once there she settled well and proved too strong for her rivals.

“Both Gemma and I have had a lot of time for this filly.

“She had shown us a lot of promise from day one.

“She did have a few issues early which hindered her preparations.

“But that has proven a godsend in a way as it gave her the time to mature and furnish into a serious racehorse.

“The Lad Dior will stay on in NSW now and I have no doubt that if she scores a couple of handy barrier draws in the semi-finals, she can make her presence felt and hopefully earn a spot in the final.”