Ready to rock his way into the winners’ circle

PARKES Harness Racing Club will head into what is usually its biggest night of the year on the heels of last Saturday’s successful New Year’s eve Carnival Of Cups meeting.

Regarded as one of the best country race meetings on the calendar, the Cub promoted last weekend’s event well and was rewarded with a huge crowd to farewell 2022, with the festivities concluding with a spectacular fireworks display.

Further south, on the same evening, the Albury Club boasted a record crowd, much to the joy of Harness Racing New South Wales.

Tonight’s meeting at Parkes officially launches the Parkes Elvis Revival Festival which, by all indications, is set to break records with an estimated 30,000 Elvis fans converging on the town.

Bathurst reinsman Doug Hewitt is returning to Parkes after registering a win there on NYE.

The always-positive reinsman can reflect on a season to remember during 2022, both on a professional and personal level.

Along with capturing his maiden Group One – Bathurst Gold Chalice – with the talented Ripp in March, Hewitt married his soulmate Casey in September.

Hewitt has eight drives on the nine-race program and is quietly confident he can open his 2023 account with a few winners, including Taylors Four in the TAB Elvis Championship.

Trained by his father Bernie, the consistent mare has four wins and 12 placings to her credit.

“She is certainly an honest mare and one that we are pleased to have in our stable,” Doug said. “Her past few runs at Bathurst have been really solid, including a strong win three starts ago.

“If she secures the right run, which I feel she can from gate eight, she should be right in the finish.

“Parkes put on a really fun carnival, and I really love being a part of it.

“They deserve a lot of credit for what they produce and what they get out of it.”

• MICHAEL DUMESNY