Rising star freshman heading interstate

EXCITING freshman Don Hunter will have a quiet week before being primed for an interstate campaign.

Proving too good in an Australian Pacing Gold Final at Club Menangle just moments ago, Don Hunter will be part of a sizable squad trainer Luke McCarthy takes to Queensland next month.,

Beginning with the Paleface Adios Classic at Albion Park on July 4, Don Hunter will then contest The Protostar at the same venue the following week.

“He’s definitely off to Queensland,” McCarthy said. “He’ll take it easy this week, then I’ll wind him up again for that.

“Tonight was only his second run from a break and I will keep him fresh before we head north.

“Tony (Licastro, part-owner) has a slot in The Protostar, so he will be lining up in that.

“He’ll stay fresh after Queensland as well as he still has a few other big race series later in the year.”

With McCarthy in the cart, Don Hunter worked to the front from six as early leader Revvin Reynard was eased to take a trail.

Striding clear along the home straight, the son of Huntsville was untouched on his way to a nine-metre win from Revvin Reynard, with Wicked Motion two-and-a-half metres away third.

“I was very happy with his run in the prelude a couple of weeks ago and his work had lifted since, so I knew it’d take a big run to beat him tonight,” McCarthy said. “Once he got to the front, he was never going to be beaten.

“He felt strong all the way up the straight and hit the line well.”

Covering the mile in 1:53.4, the two-year-old took his record to an impressive four wins and a third from five starts for earnings of $94,460.