By the time Hewitt found space to make his charge down the home straight with four-year-old gelding Tullow, the platform had already been set for a quick time thanks to a 57.1 seconds first half of the last mile.

As Tullow ($4) held off one final surge from Saloon Passage ($4.70) to win by a half head, the mile rate read 1:53.6.

It was one of the fastest runs seen since the home of harness racing at Bathurst moved to the track in the shadows of Mount Panorama in October 2014.

The record for the 1730m distance of 1:53.3 was set on December 26, 2014, by El Fuego.

"It felt pretty quick when I was out there, they were running along the whole way, but I was a bit surprised when I saw the final time," Hewitt said.

"I haven't been up here [Bathurst] for a while now, it's been a month or half a month, but that was unbelievable.

"The last 10-20 metres from the line the other horse [Saloon Passage] was real strong, so I wasn't real sure if I got there."

Tullow's most recent start at Bathurst before Friday night's feature was a fifth placing on February 14 with Chris Geary in the gig, but with seven wins from 13 starts for the season, he still had plenty of support from punters.

He started as the second elect behind the Peter Trevor-Jones trained Beetson, and it was the $3.20 favourite who set the tempo for much of the race.

Tullow momentarily led after going from barrier two, but soon handed up to Beetson.

As the bell sounded for the final lap, Hewitt sat in the trail behind Beetson with Kenny Dee Dee providing cover on his outside.

It was at that point that Eglinton trainer-driver Nathan Hurst set off on a three-wide move with Saloon Passage and as they headed into the back straight, he had taken up position outside Beetson.

There was only a wheel between the frontrunners and Tullow was not far behind either, Hewitt finally getting off the pegs into the final bend.

Beetson led the way into the home straight and while he was soon tackled by Saloon Passage, Tullow was into space and coming quickly. The final two quarters were covered in 28.1 and 28.6 seconds.

Tullow looked to have the lead before Saloon Passage kicked once more, making for a tight finish.

In the end Hewitt's Mach Three x Tessa Bromac gelding got the nod with Beetson holding on for third, finishing a further five metres behind the victor.

"Beetson was in it and he's a good horse, he's been to Menangle, so he was the perfect horse to take a sit on," Hewitt said.

"I got out on the back of the second horse [Saloon Passage] halfway into the turn and then I was able to get clear coming into the straight."

The win took Tullow's record to 11 wins and nine placings from 33 starts.