Albany trainer Paul Hunter scores winning double on home turf with maiden galloper and consistent stayer

Albany trainer Paul Hunter took his season tally to seven wins after notching a double at Percy Spencer Racecourse on Thursday. Back In Blue broke her maiden status in the opening race before Western King prevailed in a terrific finish to race three, handing the Hunter stable a winning double for the afternoon. It was almost a treble as well with Henry The Aviator running a strong second in race five. Western King may be headed towards the $100,000 Albany Cup next month after an upset win in the Hygain Tracktorque Handicap (1920m). Jumping as the outsider in the field of seven, Western King settled midfield for jockey Jade McNaught and then burst to the lead in the home straight. McNaught and Western King ($36) had to fight off a strong challenge from Wild Fusion in the final 200m to win by a half-head on the line. After eighth in last month’s Mt Barker Cup, the seven-year-old gelding notched the fifth win of his career and could be in line for a start in the Albany Cup over 2100m on April 17. Back In Blue started Hunter’s great day when leading all the way for apprentice Holly Watson. The three-year-old filly was having only her third career start and was sent straight to the front after jumping from barrier four in the TABtouch Maiden (1050m). Watson had the field stacked up behind her in running and then skipped clear in the home straight on Back In Blue to win by half a length over short-priced favourite Finest Clobber while debutant Wicked Cool ran third. Former jockey Ryan Hill continued his purple patch of form as a trainer, with Tempest Miss breaking her maiden status in race two. Tempest Miss was 10th on the turn for jockey Victoria Corver but stormed home over the top of her rivals to win by more than a length. She backed up three days later and ran fourth in a class one race at Pinjarra on Sunday.