Plans uncertain with rising star

SATURDAY night’s Melton meeting will decide the immediate future with rising star Pastor Dunbar.

Fresh from his New South Wales Trotters’ Derby triumph at Club Menangle a fortnight ago, Pastor Dunbar will compete against older rivals over 1720 metres, with trainer Damian Wilson utilising the race as a guide.

One possibility for the son of Pastor Stephen is heading to Queensland for The Great Square on July 4, while the other is a spell ahead of the Vicbred Super Series and Victoria Trotters’ Derby later in the year.

“There are a couple of options with him, but we haven’t decided which way to go yet,” Wilson said. “If he gets into the Queensland race we’ll certainly give it serious thought, but one concern is he doesn’t really know how to get out the gate yet.

“In that race against the four-year-olds he’s going to need to come out of the gate a lot better.

“If we don’t focus on Queensland he will have a short break before the main races here.

“He’s in at Melton on the weekend, so I’ll work out what we will do with him after that.”

To be driven by Wilson, Pastor Dunbar has drawn awkwardly in barrier six.

“I originally had him nominated for the three-year-old race on the same card, but it didn’t stand up,” Wilson said. “This was the only suitable race for him at the moment, so now he’s going against the older ones.

“He’s only had five starts, so he’s still learning as he goes along, but as he’s shown, the ability is there.

“The draw isn’t ideal, but it is what it is and we’ll do our best to deal with it.”