Hurst looking forward

21 July 2021

IT has been some time since Bathurst trainer-driver Nathan Hurst has had a genuine metropolitan horse in his stable.

But the quiet achiever is philosophical about the game, knowing full well that everyone has a good run of success and then experience the flip side when things become a lot quieter.

“We have definitely had some exciting times with horses such as Tullhurst Kiss, Saloon Passage, Strong Sapphire and Tulhurst Ace, to name a few, but they only come along once in a while and you then have to rely on your bread and butter horses and be satisfied to place them in suitable races,” said Hurst.

On Friday night, Hurst was at one of his favourite circuits in Parkes, a track that he knows and drives so well.

And he came away well satisfied with his efforts, landing a winning treble on the seven-race program with the highlight being his win aboard stable star Gabbys Sportstar, who is a true Parkes specialist having won six of his 13 career victories at the track.

“He went super on Friday night and got the breaks at the right time,” said Hurst.

“The leaders went hard, which played into our hands, and my bloke sprinted quickly before holding off a late challenge to win by a head.”

An impressive mile rate of 1.56.9 was only four tenths of a second slower than Gabbys Sportstar’s personal best, which was recorded on the much bigger Bathurst circuit just six weeks beforehand.

Tonight, Gabbys Sportstar will return to his home track where he meets similar opposition to the horses he defeated at Parkes.

“He has come through Friday’s run really well and the quick five-day turnaround should not worry him at all,” said Hurst.

“He is the type of horse that relishes racing and if they run along again tonight, that will suit him perfectly.

“I guess the most satisfying attribute he has is his honesty.

“He has had 13 wins and 33 placing and has now won more than $100,000 in stakes, so we could not ask for much more of him.”