Respected trainer's "very satisfying" feat

RESPECTED horseman Bernie Hewitt achieved a "very satisfying" feat at Club Menangle last Saturday night.

Hewitt ventured to the world class venue with former rising star Ripp, which hadn't raced since his unplaced effort in Bathurst on Boxing Day 2023.

Despite being sidelined for 18 months, the son of Somebeachsomewhere proved too good for his rivals.

Completing a winning debut as a two-year-old, Ripp spent more than a year in a paddock due to injury before establishing himself among the best of his crop.

A dual Group One winner at three, the son of Somebeachsomewhere made a steady transition through the grades before his previous injury "flared up" towards the end of his four-year-old campaign.

"He ran through a dry creek after his first start, over reached and his back hoof went through his front tendon," Hewitt explained. "He cut through a fair bit of his superficial flexor tendon, so he has done well to race at all.

"The fibres in that area started to come away during his last campaign and his form wavered, so I put him out.

"It has been a long process with him, but he has come back as good as ever and I was thrilled with his run.

"He had trialed well, and I was expecting a good run, but to get the win first-up for such a long time is very satisfying."

With Hewitt in the cart, Ripp led throughout from barrier four to stop the clock at 1:52.5 over a mile as Montalbano and Ravishing Sloy filled the placings.