Spotlight On: Gemma Hewitt

Spring has sprung, and that means it’s breeding time.

Mares are off to stud, ready to be covered and owners are optimistically hoping to breed the next ‘game changer’ in the world of harness racing.

So, let’s go backwards before moving forward.

Just over a decade ago, talented young horsewoman Gemma Hewitt was daydreaming during university studies. She was thinking about her future and what role the racehorses would play.

After scanning the Harness Trading Ring website, Hewitt came across an advertisement about a mare with a foal at foot based at Benstud that certainly piqued her interest.

The asking price was $6000.

Keeping in mind, what does a 22-year-old young lady need to be outlaying decent cash on a broodmare for? Aren’t there more important things to be focusing on, like a house or car? 

This was the question that Hewitt kept asking herself.

But the more she thought, the more she was prepared to play the long game.

The mare in question was no stranger to Hewitt. Laughing Lilly had a brief stay at the Sydney stables of Luke McCarthy, whom Hewitt worked for during a short stint to widen her harness racing knowledge.

“I was meant to be studying but found myself looking at horses for sale and noticed this mare. The name just jumped off the page and I was intrigued immediately. I knew the mare from when she campaigned in Sydney. Dean Braun trained her and she was talented but more importantly, she was a lovely big roomy Mach Three mare,” Hewitt said.

“Once I convinced myself to buy her, there were some underlying issues in closing the deal. She was in foal at the time to Changeover and the service was yet to be paid, and that brought other concerns. Eventually, we got it all sorted, and the mare changed hands.”

Born and raised in New Zealand’s deep south, Laughing Lilly was placed into the care of Gordon and Colin Lee where she managed to win two races (Wyndham and Gore) from 15 starts before being sold to Australian interests.

Interestingly, during her time in New Zealand, Laughing Lilly was placed behind richly talented types Franco Jamar (Wyndham) and Russley Rascal (Auckland).

In Australia, Laughing Lilly scored another three wins (Menangle twice, Newcastle) from 13 starts before retirement.

Her final three starts came via Queensland when under the care of John McCarthy with Todd driving.

Raced by Karlos Farah and now big spending thoroughbred owner Ozzie Kheir, Laughing Lilly was put in foal to Rock N Roll Heaven.

The resultant foal was a colt named Will I Rocknroll (18 wins, $195,000), a solid performer in both Victoria and Western Australia.

All remaining foals came under the banner of Hewitt.

“I sorted the service fee for Changeover and DNA testing, which meant I was the registered breeder of the resultant foal. It happened to be Kash Us Back (26 wins, $243,000) and his life got off to a rough start,” Hewitt said

“Before he turned two-years-old, he was struck down with a life-threatening illness. He spent almost two weeks at the vet and I was told to fear the worst and his racing career was unlikely, but he kept fighting and eventually got back to full health. He can’t have a needle on his nearside neck given all the damage caused by all the drips he had back then.

“That’s how I started the Kash names, I named him Kash Us Back because of all the monies invested in him by that stage; he almost sent me broke. Unbelievably, he raced at two and won his first two starts (Parkes and Bathurst); he always showed natural ability and clearly one of my most satisfying moments in the game.

“He’s a very special horse in many ways, very kind and great to have around the stables. I’m hoping he can crack $250,000 in earnings before retirement because I’ve decided to retire him at my farm once he finished on the track.”

The next foal was a stylish For A Reason colt. The anticipation grew quickly for the colt who was named Kashed Up.

“Easily the most natural of all the foals to date, he had a certain look about him and broke in perfectly. He won two of his first three starts and qualified for the Gold Crown, Breeders Challenge, Breeders Blue before winning the Breeders Challenge Western Final at Wagga in 1:52.2.

“As a three-year-old, he had another huge season and competed in so many features including the NSW Derby, Gold Chalice, Redcliffe Derby, Rising Sun, Queensland Derby, Breeders Challenge before ending his term with a victory in the Breeders Blue Final at Menangle.

“His four-year-old season was, yet again, excellent. By this stage, I had moved to Brisbane, and he won the Queensland Sun, started in the Rising Sun again before returning to Sydney for another crack at the Breeders Challenge series in which he finished second behind Bettor Isolate in the Final in 1:49.7.

“I got offered huge money from North American interests and, given my situation, it was an offer I couldn’t refuse. It was a no brainer and gave me great security.”

The next foal was Kash Tin (by Tintin In America), a big striding type who has built a record of eight wins with earning more than $60,000 to date

Her current two-year-old is Kash Fund (by Sweet Lou), an Albion Park winner while he qualified for the Group 1 Bathurst Gold Crown Final back in March.

“Kash Tin is better than what his record reads, he’s got a spur on a hind leg which has troubled him while Kash Fund should come back better next season, I’m planning on giving him a good break and that should allow him to grow and become stronger,” Hewitt said.

“Her latest foal is a King Of Swing colt. He’s a beautifully bodied type but his head is ordinary - so much so, I originally called him King but changed it to Moose, which provides plenty of perspective while Lilly is back in foal to For A Reason.

“All of her foals have been colts except for a Caribbean Blaster filly, but that was doomed from the start. She went unnamed and unraced before I gave her away as an embryo mare. I’m kind of hoping I get a filly with this next foal - a full sister to Kashed Up would be a great result.

“All of her foals to date have been completely different in size and shape. There’s no pattern for the stallions I’ve selected over the years, just a combination of value for money and maximising the best futurity schemes. You’ve got to give yourself every opportunity at getting every dollar available.”

Earlier this year, Hewitt purchased her own farm at Haigslea, west of Brisbane, and occupying the main front paddock is none other than Laughing Lilly, the big mare with a prolapsed belly is enjoying life - and so is Hewitt.

“It’s been hectic but enjoyable knowing this is my farm which is really rewarding for the hard yards put in over the past couple of years in particular. If wasn’t for Laughing Lilly, I wouldn’t be in this position, I owe it all to Lilly,” she said.

“Lilly is nearing 20-years-old later this year so I’m going to keep breeding her for as long as I can, hopefully the best is still to come.”

Looking back, it was a calculated risk but one that has paid handsome dividends owing to some careful planning.

Five foals to race for five winners, three have earned above $100,000 to date.

Daydreaming or visionary?

You be the judge.

Hoofnote: Laughing Lilly has either missed, slipped or had a dead foal to Bettors Delight, Sweet Lou, Lazarus and American Ideal as a broodmare.