Apprentice Lyle Hewitson, who rode 23 winners as a workrider, expects to have his first winner in the professional ranks at Fairview on Friday.

Fittingly it will be on a horse his father Carl owns a share in and also helps condition, being assistant trainer to Yvette Bremner.

Hewitson rides the Bremner-trained Blizzard Belle in a Conditions Plate for fillies and mares over 1000m.

The Western Winter mare has won her last five on the trot. She is second best in at the weights on Friday off her 99 merit rating.

However, Hewitson’s 4kg claim will alleviate some of the 7kg she is under sufferance with the best weighted horse in the race, stablemate Love To Sail.

The latter is a classy sort, who has her first run since being sent to Port Elizabeth from the Mike de Kock yard.

Love To Sail would prefer a touch further, but hasn’t run since last November, so could do well in this sprint.

Hewitson needs five qualifying rides down the straight before being allowed to race around the turn.

However, he is only allowed a maximum of two qualifying rides per racemeeting, even if he has more rides on the day. He has three qualifying rides under the belt to date.

Hewitson has had eight rides in the professional ranks to date for one third place and one fourth.

He compared it to riding in workrider races, “It is a lot tighter and there isn’t just one pace, there are changes of pace throughout the race.”

However, he added the communication between riders was a lot better, which obviously made the safety factor better.

He concluded, “It is just a lot more professional.”

By David Thiselton