CANBERRA Raiders skipper Jarrod Croker is no stranger to harness racing having raced more than half a dozen horses with Goulburn trainer Brad Hewitt. Raiders team mate Sam Williams also enjoys dabbling in the ownership of some pacers but with the arrival of a new mare into the Hewitt stable, several more Raiders have become owners.
Hewitt produced former kiwi Supriya to win at Canberra on Tuesday night at her first run in the country and the daughter of Changeover will race again on Tuesday at Young.
“Jarrod and Sam have been in a few horses with me and they’ve always said there were a few more boys interested in getting a horse so when I got this one from New Zealand Jarrod got a few more players involved,” Hewitt said.
“Elliot Whitehead, Shannon Boyd and Luke Bateman all have shares in her and they roped the coach Ricky Stuart in as well. I’ve met all of the players and they’re a good bunch of blokes so hopefully Supriya can do the job and it might entice them to buy another one.”
Supriya’s win on Tuesday night at Canberra was impressive despite some worrying moments for Hewitt.
“I nearly got tipped out of the sulky at one stage but she did a good job and won by more than ten metres. I think if there hadn’t been any dramas in the run she could have won by double that.
“The boys had been in Brisbane after playing against the Broncos last weekend and flew back into Canberra at 5:55pm on Tuesday night. I don’t know how but Jarrod (Croker) somehow arrived at the track at 6:20 to watch the last lap and see her win.”
Hewitt isn’t feeling too much pressure training for his new owners although he is yet to meet Ricky Stuart.
“The boys love the fun of having a horse but I just hope I’m not on the end of one of Ricky’s sprays if I pull the wrong rein in a race,” Hewitt joked.
Surpiya is engaged in race four at Young on Tuesday night with the race timed to begin at 7:40pm. The race is a heat of the Rising Stars series and Group 1 winning trainer/driver Jason Grimson will take the reins.
“There is no pressure on me on Tuesday, I’ll leave that to Jason but I’m really happy with her. I wasn’t sure what to expect last Tuesday night at Canberra because she had only worked once or twice with other horses since arriving from New Zealand.
“I like her and I think the boys should have a bit of fun with her.”
Approved By Dean Baring www.harnessbred.com
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