EGLINGTON trainer Nathan Hurst will make the three hour trip to West Wyalong on Sunday afternoon chasing the Carnival Of Cups riches. Hurst has a runner in both of the feature races and is hoping to spring an upset with Spanish Lustre and Tulhurst Courage.
Spanish Lustre qualified for the Tattersalls Hotel Starlite Standing Start Series Final when finishing second behind Oh Jonny B Good in a heat at Dubbo and is looking forward to having another crack at the Amanda Turnbull trained four-year-old gelding.
“Spanish Lustre began so well in his heat at Dubbo and hopefully he can do the same in the final on Sunday, I’d really like to find the front again,” Hurst said.
“There is no doubt the two class runners in the race are Oh Jonny B Good and Sporty Spook and they will be very hard to hold off but with the help of the handicaps you have to run along and make them earn it.”
Hurst confirmed the 2540 metres of Sunday’s event would play in Spanish Lustre’s favour.
“He just keeps on grinding away, we purchased him out of New Zealand where he had run some nice races and while it took me a while to get him going I’ve been really happy with him lately.
“He raced on Wednesday night at Dubbo but the quick back-up won’t worry him too much, I think he will run a good race off the 30 metre handicap.”
Tulhurst Courage will compete in the West Wyalong S & C Club Pacers Cup. The seven-year-old gelding has won 22 races in his career but is still searching for his first victory in 2016.
“The barrier draws haven’t been kind to him lately and that is making it pretty tough so this weekend I’ll drive him quietly and hopefully they go hard up front and the horses at the back of the field get a shot late.”
“He has won more than $100,000 now so he has been a very good horse for the stable.”
Hurst believes his best chance of the afternoon is Tulhurst Santanna in race two.
“He raced pretty well at Bathurst during the Gold Crown series, he led up in a heat and finished third behind Persimmon so from the good draw he should be able to find the front. From there he should give his rivals something to chase.”
There are nine races to be run at the West Wyalong Carnival Of Cups meeting on Sunday with the first event scheduled for 1:03pm.
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