There wasn't much sleep for Doug Hewitt on Saturday night but that mattered little after he drove a winning treble at Dubbo Paceway on Sunday afternoon.
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Hewitt had been at Menangle on Saturday night and had gone within metres of a second career Group 3 win.
With many roads around the mountains being closed on the weekend due to snow and freezing conditions Hewitt was lucky to be able to make the trip from Bathurst to the city track, and he was equally lucky to make it home.
He and his partner had to take some back roads but were back home close to 2am, before being up just four hours later to prepare for the trip to Dubbo.
"It was a quick turnaround but it was worth it," he laughed.
The treble at Dubbo not only made the lack of sleep worthwhile, it somewhat eased the pain of missing out on a win in Saturday's Group 3 Success Stud Ladyship Pace (1609m) with Make Mine Heaven by a half-head.
Hewitt drove Infinity Beach and Rock Fisherman to victory for his father Bernie at Dubbo before steering Josh Turnbull's Bell River Boy to a shock victory.
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It continued his strong relationship with the Dubbo track, as what remains his only Group-level win being scored there last year.
Sunday's treble was also that bit more special given he took out the day's two main races.
After taking out the meeting's opening event, the TAB Odds and Evens 2YO Fillies Pace (1,720m), with Infinity Beach he scored victories in both the Lester Coffee Memorial (1720m) and the Garrads Rio Meteor Gig Final (2120m).
The memorial event honours the memory of Lester Coffee, who is the father of well-know harness racing photographers Sharon and Amanda.
"Rock Fisherman won that Coffee Memorial and that was pretty good because we've had a bit to do with those girls and they've looked after us so it was good to get the win and also because of the way he did it," Hewitt said.
"He's coming back into form."
Hewitt was in an awkward position behind leader Whiskiesonthebeach on the bend for home but Cloudin Up galloped from the death seat and provided Rock Fisherman with plenty of fresh air to make his charge.
That was followed by a particularly strong win with Bell River Boy in the Garrads Rio Meteor Gig Final was particularly impressive.
The $9.50 chance blitzed his rivals, winning by nearly 20m while still appearing he was doing nothing but taking a leisurely stroll late on.
"Josh put me on last time and he stuck with me and he [Bell River Boy] has been a bit of a surprise packet," Hewitt said, the gelding having won four of 12 races since joining the Turnbull stables.
"I thought there might be a big battle down the back and home straight but when I asked him he let down and found another gear.
"Josh is away at the moment but even he was surprised how convincing it was and he was over the moon."
Infinity Beach had earlier shrugged off a challenge on the home from Mercurius ($4, Justin Reynolds) to win comfortably in the first event as a $3.10 hope.
Hewitt went close to a fourth win but he and and the Bernie-trained Lady Swiss ($5) were edged out by the Jake Davis-driven outsider Studleigh Sonny ($31) in the day's final event, the Goodtime Lodge Pace (2120m).
Nick Guthrie
I started working at the Daily Liberal in 2013 and now hold the position of senior journalist. I cover all that's happening in sport in Dubbo and the wider western area and have a passion for doing so. If you've got a story that needs telling, reach out.
I started working at the Daily Liberal in 2013 and now hold the position of senior journalist. I cover all that's happening in sport in Dubbo and the wider western area and have a passion for doing so. If you've got a story that needs telling, reach out.
