Queensland campaign off to a flyer for Hewitt

By Darren Clayton

The trip north to Queensland has been a regular pilgrimage for Bathurst trainer Bernie Hewitt for many years.

As soon as the frost-laden mornings of the Central Tablelands start to bear their teeth, Hewitt packs the truck in search of the warmer weather.

Success is never far away and the popular horseman wasted little time in leading home the first winner of the 2026 trip when Sweet On Lexy was successful at Albion Park on May 23.

The talented four-year-old was Hewitt’s first starter for this latest sojourn.

Always an above-average type, Sweet On Lexy is back for a third Queensland Constellations.

After winning the 2024 Paleface Adios at Albion Park, the gelding then finished a credible seventh behind Fate Awaits in the inaugural Protostar, after starting from gate six. 

Bad barriers hurt Sweet On Lexy again in 2025. He started from barrier 11 in the Queensland Derby, but the gelding seems fit and well for this latest campaign.

“He seems to be on top of his game now, so touch wood everything keeps going well,” Hewitt said.

“He's been nice and fresh, he wants to run and he can run a bit of time.”

Set to race this Saturday night, the Constellations target for Sweet On Lexy is still yet to be firmly decided, with the decision between The Rising Sun and the Inter Dominion.

“He is nominated for the Inters and I think Lex (owner), said his rankings have come down to the 50s," he said. 

“I suppose it depends on his next few runs, whether he can get qualified for that or not. So, definitely the four-year-old races, but there are options.”

Another quality four-year-old from the Hewitt stable that will race this Saturday is Jungle Dragon.

The gelding was runner-up behind the talented Final Deadline at his first Albion Park assignment and will contest a qualifying race this Saturday.

A strong showing is expected. Jungle Dragon already has a Group 2 title and he will press his claims for some of the four-year-old features during the upcoming Queensland Constellations.

“He's working just as well as Sweet On Lexy,” he said.

“They're both going well and there are options for him, as well.

“I’ve been happy with their work this week and they're pretty spot on.”

While it is full steam ahead with Sweet On Lexy and Jungle Dragon, there is some frustration with talented three-year-old Yottie.

Still only lightly raced with just eight career starts, the talented gelding has placed in the Group 1 NSW Derby and Group 2 Bathurst Gold Chalice in his past three starts.

Despite the obvious talent, finding a suitable race is currently proving the biggest hurdle.

“We can't get a race for him, so I'm not sure what we're doing with him,” Hewitt said.

“We're treading water with him a bit.

“He had a hit-out the other day just to get him up to the mark and I'll just have to wait and see.”

Yottie has trialled twice at Albion Park, with the most recent a scintillating performance on Tuesday.

Stopping the clock in 1.50.9 with a closing quarter of 26.2 seconds, the classy three-year-old defeated open-class speedster Cheerstolou by a head margin.

The South East Derby and Queensland Derby are the main targets for Yottie, with Hewitt of the opinion that the gelding will be well suited over a longer trip.

While Yottie will chart a course towards the Derby races at Albion Park, Berocca Bernie will likely head to the Redcliffe Derby.

“I’m quite happy with him and his effort the other day to run second in a quick last section, he had to come wide and he made good ground," he said. 

“He's got really good gate speed and, I'd like to find the fence with him if I can get a run.”

If early signs are any guide, the Bathurst trainer's annual winter pilgrimage is shaping as another fruitful Queensland campaign.