Lyle Hewitson spoke of the difficulties of everyday life in Hong Kong at the moment as horseracing is effectively operating in a bubble to keep it going as a fifth wave has swept the island with harmful results.
 
He said, “Our restrictions as jockeys and other jockey club officials are more hectic. Basically we are in a form of lockdown here. So that isn’t great but it’s what’s necessary to keep racing going. Racing is good. I would love to be having more winners but I believe I’m riding well, getting good results consistently and enjoying it all in the process. Hopefully it’s all setting myself up for successful seasons to come.”

He continued, “The club only sits on a pre-determined date each year and then goes through the renewal process for each rider.”

He said about the short term future, “The season here only ends 16 July, so the Hollywoodbets Durban July day was never an option.”

However I will be using the off season to go and visit family in the UK whom I haven’t seen for a few years. I had intentions of returning to ride Gold Cup day and that would have been lovely, but plans changed just recently. I would be able to ride in the UK since it’s the off season in Hong Kong, but I don’t necessarily have connections there yet so this time around it’s just a holiday. Hopefully next time I could book rides too. It would make for an exciting working holiday!”

Lyle reiterated the difficulty of breaking in on the island, “You ‘predominantly’ will only work horses you’re booked to ride in upcoming races. I guess that’s one of the things that makes it harder to break in to get support because it’s not like you’re able to run from ring to ring on a daily basis and work your way in.”

Every ride is important and he used Luke Ferraris’s fine win followed by a second place on Sunday, both for the legendary many-times champion jockey and twice champion trainer Tony Cruz, as an example, saying, “It definitely will be a positive for him moving forward. A winner for him and a few other good results recently hopefully just means more and more support from a strong yard like his, which no doubt will be beneficial. But as we all know, you cannot rest on your laurels and have to keep it going and I know Luke is determined to do so.”

Cruz was instrumental in turning around Felix Coetzee’s fortunes and for South African fans history can hopefully repeat itself.

Lyle’s three winners this season have all been for another legend on the island, Douglas Whyte, and this has seen him getting good support lately.

For the month of March he has been averaging about six rides per meeting which augurs well for his future.

Picture: Two of Hewitson’s wins this season have been on Valiant Elegance (Salade). (Hong Kong Jockey Club).