THEY dashed for cash and made a star - Tamworth's Carnival of Cups meeting on Sunday night was a good one for Nathan Hurst's stable.
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While Hurst did not qualify a runner for the headline Golden Guitar Final - his hopefuls placed third and fourth in the consolation - the trip from Bathurst to Tamworth was one he said was "worthwhile for sure."
Five years after Hurst last won the three-year-old Star Marker Final in sensational fashion aboard Tulhurst Jailbreak, who was checked and broke but sprinted home, he did it again.
This time it was $6 chance Eagle Commander who Hurst steered to success in the 1980 metres feature.
"He seems to be getting better, he did a lot of work but still managed to hold them off," Hurst said.
After initially dropping back towards the rear after going from barrier eight, when Blue Ocean began a three-wide move Hurst ducked in behind him.
From there Hurst guided Eagle Commander into the lead.
While the favourite pressured on his outside with a lap to travel, when Hurst tapped up Eagle Commander down the back straight he kicked. He went on to win by 7.4m.
That success came after Angela Hedges had driven Hurst's Peggyville ($18) to an upset win in the 1230m Dash For Cash.
Though the speed was on from the get-go, Hedges settled Peggyville in the one-one before making her move into the final bend.
The 166-start veteran went on to win in a career-best 1:56.0 mile rate.
"I thought he was a real good chance, he just needed a bit of luck. Once he landed where did and the favourite galloped it helped us and Ange drove him a treat," Hurst said.
"He's led a few times, but he's better like that, get him a bit of cover and he can power up late.
"It was nice to win a couple yeah. We always come to the carnival this time of year, we love it. We've won that race [Star Maker] before, so it was good to win it again.
"The prize money is great on them nights, even if you're not in the main race, it's still pretty handy."
