EGLINTON trainer Nathan Hurst has confidence his former Group 3 winner Saloon Passage will be right in the mix during the Reliance Bank Pace (1,730 metres) on Wednesday night.
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Saloon Passage is aiming to return to the winner’s circle after a fifth place finish in his previous start – his first run back in three months.
The Elsu gelding started as an odds-on favourite for that run, but despite not living up to that price Hurst took a lot of confidence away from his runner’s return to the racing scene.
“He drew wide and because it was a longer trip we decided to go back, because it would have been a risky move to go forward and get caught wide from there,” he said.
“Beetson just ran a great race to win that. I don’t think we would have got him anyway. He still ran a really good race for fifth.
“His times were really good and he’s pulled up really well from the run.”
Saloon Passage has drawn another wide gate for this Wednesday’s race at Bathurst Paceway – seven – and comes up against some handy veterans.
Among the other contenders are Platinum Roulette, Smithstars Lexus and Star Writer.
“It’s a pretty good field. He goes out of seven for this one and he should be able to go forward from this draw,” Hurst said.
The eight-race meeting at Bathurst Paceway starts from 5.28pm.
