Hurst all smiles after a Tamworth double
EAGLE Commander showed superiority to win the $12,000 Hygain Star Maker Three-Year-Old Final for Bathurst trainer and reinsman Nathan Hurst on Sunday evening as part of the Tamworth HRC Carnival of Cups meeting.
“It’s great to win the Star Maker again,” said Hurst.
“Tulhurst Jailbreak won it for us last time.”
Eagle Commander also presented Hurst with a training double after Peggyville won the Roadworks Industries Dash For Cash over 1230m, driven by his wife, Angela Hedges.
Eagle Commander had no luck the previous week, finishing eighth to Justa Little Bit from the Jarrod Alchin stables.
“We got a good run through at around the 1,200 mark tonight,” said Hurst after beginning from the eight barrier and sitting at the rear of the field with Tamworth pacer Galvarino leading the pack with Richard Williams taking the reins.
“It worked out good going then,” said Hurst after Eagle Commander scored a 7.4 metre win over $1.60 race favourite Justa Little Bit (Jarrod Alchin) with Jackomondo (Peter Hedges) 3.4 metres away third
“[It was] better than last week when he (Eagle Commander) didn’t have any luck and it was hard to make ground on them.
“He (Justa Little Bit) came up quick and I had to pull the ear plugs on my horse to keep his mind on the job.
“Tonight, we managed to get to the front and he loves being there.
“I love coming up here to Tamworth for their carnival and to win a feature is great.”
Angela Hedges then spoke of her win in the Roadwork Industries Dash For Cash over 1230 metres with Peggyville.
“When they galloped on the turn, I was right in the race,” said Hedges.
“We were pretty confident going into the race and knew we just needed a little bit of luck.”
With Bo Yang (Murray Sullivan) leading the field from the one barrier, the Alectown-trained gelding stepped out of his gear, disrupting the field.
Once the field settled Hedges landed in the one by one with Dynamic Dynamite (Jake Hughes) leading before Hedges sent Peggyville on his way on the final turn in the shorter-distance race.
Peggyville went on for 2.3 metre win over Dynamic Deejay and Right On With It (Guy Chapple) another metre away third producing a mile rate of 1.56 for 1230 metres.
“He had to do some work when they galloped to get up into the one by one and I was just a bit worried that he might stop but he kept going,” said Hedges.
Peggyville has been a great campaigner with the 10-year-old Bullville-Peggyart gelding picking up his 11th race win at start 116.
- JULIE MAUGHAN