Doug Hewitt could putting all his focus into the start of the Group 10 season at the moment but instead he's celebrating the success a renewed focus in the harness racing game is bringing.
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Hewitt is the captain-coach of the Bathurst Panthers but won't figure on the field in the early rounds of the 2019 season due to a knee injury.
The knock was suffered while working with horses at his father Bernie's stables during the recent Gold Crown carnival, something which saw him miss Panthers start their title defence with a 44-10 win over Blayney.
The racing game is another passion of Hewitt's and on Friday night he drove a winning double at Dubbo Harness Racing Club.
The two victories came after he drove another win for his father earlier in the week at his home track of Bathurst.
Hewitt's first winner on Friday was Lady Swiss in the Radio 2DU/Zoo FM Ladyship Pace (1720m).
Lady Swiss came into the event having run eighth in the Group 1 Gold Bracelet Final at Bathurst recently.
She started a $7.50 chance in what was an extremely open affair and Hewitt settled well back in the field after what was a fast start.
Lady Swiss sat seventh on the pegs while Our Pocketrocket (Garry Edwards, $41) and the late mail runner Tatibye (James Dean, $11) battled for the lead early on.
Nathan Turnbull then got Dot Ayou ($3.20) into the lead after skirting around the outside and the pace slowed as the field got close to receiving the bell.
It was shortly after the final lap began Hewitt made his move from near last, setting forward three wide while Dot Ayou and Tatibye continued to go stride-for-stride at the front.
Hewitt found nothing but clean air in front of him while $3 favourite Ichiba Newy (Mat Rue) followed her forward in the hope of finding a run.
But it soon became clear it was all about Lady Swiss as she powered forward and rounded the bend to take the lead into the home straight.
There was no catching her as she went on to win by four metres in a handy milerate of 1:58:7.
The stable is going really well.
- Doug Hewitt
Dot Ayou and Beautifulvengeance (Anthony Winnell, $8) filled the minor placings.
"There was a fair bit of early speed on and sitting back there she felt like she had plenty of horse left so I launched with a lap to go," Hewitt said.
"I was looking for a bit of cover but none came and she was good enough to do it her own anyway.
"She's an honest little filly. You can forget she's still a three-year-old. She's been racing the older horses for awhile.
"She went against her class in the Gold Crown series and they were a bit too good for her but coming back here she just showed she's one of those consistent mares who always puts in for you."
Hewitt, who had just three drives on the night, didn't have to wait too long for more success as he took out the Westside Kitchens Three-Year-Old Pace (2120m) with Mammals Riddle.
Hewitt and Mammals Riddle ($2.70) took control of that race midway through and won by 3.2m from John O'Shea's $81 outsider Reeceeharlow and Caribbean Rocket ($5.50), driven by Dubbo's Tom Pay for Gemma Rue.
"The stable is going really well and we've got a fair few in work," Hewitt said.
"It makes it worth it getting up in the morning each day to work with them when they keep getting a win here and there."
There was some surprise success for the locals in the Furneys Horseland Harness Breeders NSW Ladyship Pace (2120m).
The Lex Bramble-trained On Angels Wings took out that event and incredibly it was the first win of her career after 72 previous attempts.
The eight-year-old mare, driven by Amy Rees, showed great speed to motor along the inside in the straight to steal victory from Cee Cee Norman ($16) on the line.