NATHAN Hurst made an irregular swoop to win with Tulhurst Ace and The Matrix at Tamworth Paceway last Thursday – and will be back for more next Thursday.
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The Eglinton-based trainer-driver (just outside Bathurst) normally races only at Tamworth during the Golden Guitar Carnival in January so to return to the Country Music Capital in April was something of a change for the Bathurst horseman.
“I couldn’t find any races for them down home,” he said of his three Tamworth runners.
“I also had three in at Dubbo last night (Wednesday).”
So he filled up the truck and headed west and north.
It was a good decision, the trainer-driver finishing with a winning double at Tamworth Paceway last Thursday.
Tulhurst Ace kicked off Hurst’s good day coming from midfield to run down Jogalong Stingray in the second race of Thursday’s eight-race program and score by 4.5m in a good mile rate of 1:59.9.
“He’s been running good races at home and dropped back a bit in class today,” he told on-course interviewer Mark Lowe.
“They ran along out in front too.”
He thought his second and third runners would run good races too and was right on the money when The Matrix won the second Droughtbreaker Mile heat.
“It was a real good race for him,” he said of a gelding who had won 10 races from 88 previous starts .
“We have to come back now for the final.”
That May 5 Droughtbreaker Final is worth $7650 and looks ideal for The Matrix.
“He’s been struggling with bad barriers,” Hurst said.
“He’s been struggling to get into races but got the opportunity today.
“It would be good to come back and win that final,” he said.
Tulhurst Courage was the odd one out, finishing fifth to Fours Enuf Tas in the Hazells Farm & Fertilizer Services Pace.
While Tamworth races again on Thursday, May 5 with the Droughtbreaker Final, Inverell Harness Racing Club go this Sunday with a six-race program highlighted by the $10,000 Inverell Cup (2000m).
There is also an $8000 3YO pace and $7000 C0 Pace (both 2000m) on the program, nominations for which close at 9.30am today.