On Wednesday night the Eglinton (near Bathurst) trainer turned that around when he finished with a winning double and on Sunday he hopes to qualify three of his stable for next Thursday’s $20,000 Pryde’s EasiFeed Golden Guitar Final.

Hurst won the first race of Wednesday night’s Gold Nugget meeting with Tulhurst Candy.

The six-year-old gelding rated 2:00.3 in winning the Good Companions Hotel Pace (1980m) by 1.25m.

Then Regal Eagle scored a head win in the Family Hotel Pace (1980m), rating 1:59.5.

“He goes good,” Hurst said after Regal Eagle’s 16th race win.

“He’s been racing in tougher races and appreciated the drop in grade. 

“They both did.

“We had a disastrous night the first night last year.”

Hurst had a tough time last year, travelling back and forth from Bathurst to race at the Golden Guitar Carnival.

This year he’s staying the full time.

“I’ve got six up here,” he said.

“I’ve got a few more in here on Sunday.

“Three of them are in heats of the Golden Guitar. 

“They all go okay too.”

Unfortunately for Hurst, two of his trio – Make Some Magic and Getaloadathis – were drawn in the same heat while Tulhurst Courage has drawn the fifth of five heats.

o 18-year-old Dubbo driver Nathan Carroll had success for Tamworth trainer Ernie Mabbott at the Paceway on Wednesday night when he led much of the way with Due Cause.

The six-year-old pacer notched his first win this season and third career win with a neck success over Mark Callaghan’s Rai Waka Falcon.

“He surprised me,” Carroll said. “I’ve finally got one up for Ernie.”

The talented 18-year-old apprentice electrician returns to Tamworth on Sunday to drive Due Cause in the third heat of the Golden Guitar.

While Tamworth has five heats of the Pryde’s EasiFeed Golden Guitar leading into Thursday night’s $20,000 Final, it also has four support races completing a second big night for the club after running 10 races on Wednesday night.