Last Wednesday night Hurst’s stable star Saloon Passage, with Anglea Hedges in the gig, flew to victory in his 1,730 meters race.

The six-year-old son of Elsu clocked a 1:53.7 winning mile rate, with his opening sectional covered in a scorching 27.6 seconds.

It was the 21^st win of his career and not far away from the track record 1:53.3 El Fuego posted on December 26, 2014.

“I wasn’t really surprised, he’s probably been running around that sort of mark, not quiet as quick, but not too far off it. He’s been beaten in some fast times as well,” Hurst said.

“He’s been running at Menangle, which has hardened him up to come back and do well here.

“He’s really stepped up this season. He’s been racing really well down there, he’s been competitive in good company.”

While Hurst has no qualms in rating Saloon Passage “the best horse we’ve had”, this Wednesday night at the Bathurst Paceway he has another runner worth watching.

Three-year-old Santana Blue Chip x Ballroom Belle gelding Tulhurst Santanna will line up in the Bathurst Batteries Pace (1,730m).

While Saloon Passage was notching up his impressive win in Bathurst last Wednesday, Hurst was in Victoria steering Tulhurst Santanna to victory.

He took out a three-year-old pace in all the way fashion at Cobram as the $1.20 favourite, clocking a handy 1:57.7 mile rate.

“He’s Victorian bred, so if you get a win down there you get a bonus, that’s the reason why we went down there and we’ll come back to Bathurst now,” Hurst said.

“These things don’t always come off, so we are lucky he had a win, it’s a long drive to Cobram.”

It was the second win of Tulhurst Santanna’s nine-start career, but he also has five minor placings to his credit.

Hurst feels he has good potential and has matured since his two-year-old campaign.

“He does show good ability. When he went to Victoria last year he ran second in a Group 2 and he’s back well this year, he’s going along well,” he said.

“I think he has matured since we turned him in as a two-year-old.”

On Wednesday night Tulhurst Santanna will get the chance to use his gate speed from a barrier two draw.

“He gets out very quickly so he should be somewhere up the front, but it’s probably a bit stronger than the Cobram race, there are a few horses with a bit of ability in it,” Hurst said.

“But yeah, he likes it in front, so hopefully he can get the lead and run along well there.”