Lyle Hewitson secured his first win in Australia on his ninth attempt, guiding the Race 1 winner Peridot Star at Pakenham Synthetic for trainer Philip Stokes. Hewitson is spending his holiday break riding in Australia, opting out of the Durban season, unlike his colleague Keagan De Melo, who is vacationing in Durban.

Hewitson's stint in Australia is expected to conclude by mid to late August as preparations for the upcoming Hong Kong racing season intensify. Known for seeking out new challenges, Hewitson previously rode in Japan after his first Hong Kong season in 2020, with this latest venture to Australia being another step in broadening his experience.