Eglinton’s Nathan Hurst was in the gig for Saloon Passage ($22.30) in Saturday’s Brian Hancock Cup (Group 3, 1,609 metres) at Menangle.
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The New Zealand bay gelding started from number two in the second row.
Saloon Passage settled early in the race at sixth and all ten horses kept their positions consistent in the back straight.
The Hurst trained gelding finished strongly in the final straight to claim third.
Coming into the final turn was where the race changed completely.
The leading horse at the time – Blazin N Cullen ($13.20) – who is trained by former Bathurst resident John McCarthy and driven by son Todd, began to lose his lead.
It was in that moment, eventual winner and favourite Lets Chase The Dream ($1.40) made his move.
The four-year-old bay horse brought home a handy $18,000, after being driven to victory by Natalie Rasmussen.
The other McCarthy trained horse – Monifieth – finished well for fourth, with McCarthy in the gig.
Saloon Passage was not the only Hurst trained horse to race at Menangle on Saturday, with Tulhurst Ace finishing sixth in the Plus Fitness 24/7 Ingleburn Pace (2,300 metres).
Georges Plain’s Bernie Hewitt had two horses in the Harness Breeders NSW Pink Diamond, with Royal Story ($15.80) finishing second and Im With Lexy ($23.10) coming in sixth on good night for Bathurst trainers.