Exciting freshman’s perfect cameo

EXCITING freshman Don Hunter completed what could best be described as a cameo at Club Menangle yesterday.

First-up since working hard in the ‘death seat’ for a gutsy fifth in the $500,000 Protostar at Albion Park on July 11, Don Hunter captured a Breeders’ Challenge heat for trainer Luke McCarthy.

Thrilled with the colt’s performance, McCarthy revealed Don Hunter won’t race again for more than a month.

“That was a great run from him,” McCarthy said. “He had a good break after his Queensland trip and it did him the world of good.

“I gave him a couple of solid trials before the heat and he improved after every run.

“He won’t go around again until the semis on October 24, but I will keep him ticking over quietly at home.”

With McCarthy holding the reins, Don Hunter led from the pole before being eased to take a trail behind Oh Its On.

Gaining a saloon passage along the inside, the son of Huntsville sprinted to a four-and-a-half metre win from the pacemaker, with Rogue Bandit a head away third.

Covering the mile in 1:52.3, Don Hunter took his record to an imposing five wins and a third from seven starts.

“He’s a very nice colt,” McCarthy said. “Tony (Licastro, owner) picked him out at the sale and he’s working out very nicely.”

Earlier on the card boom filly Birdsong blitzed her Breeders’ Challenge rivals in 1:53.6.

Driven by Robbie Morris, Birdsong led throughout from barrier four to score by 12 metres from Kvitka Stride, with Gunnareason a metre-and-a-half away third.

Also by Huntsville, Birdsong stretched her tally to six wins and a second from eight starts.