Sax On Que showing hits winning note for Hunter

Sax On Que has produced a strong winning performance in his return to racing, part of a training double for Albany’s Paul Hunter at Percy Spencer Racecourse last Friday.

New stable acquisition Time To Hunt and sprinter Sax On Que made it a successful day for Hunter, taking his winning tally to three in the Great Southern this season.

After an impressive trial at Mt Barker last month, Sax On Que settled just worse than midfield shortly after jumping for jockey Jordan Turner.

The six-year-old settled and followed the favourite Norton three deep around the turn, and after finding some trouble early in the straight Turner was able to burst through an opening in the final 200m to grab Ibiza and prevail by 0.3 lengths on the line in the Hygain Recuperate Handicap (1100m).

Hunter said it was a pleasing first-up run from Sax On Que, who has now won three of his 16 career starts.

“He trialled good at Barker a fortnight ago, his fresh form is good so I was confident leading up to the race,” Hunter said.

“We will send him to a 58 plus race in a fortnight, he’s out of class two grade now so we have to look at some different races for him but we will tick along down here in Albany and Mt Barker.”

Time to Hunt, formerly trained by Daniel and Ben Pearce, won his first race for the Hunter stable after proving too strong in the big field of runners that contested the Hygain Tru-Gain Handicap (1600m).

Hoop Kyra Yuill picked up the ride from Mitch Pateman, who didn’t make the trip to Albany, and Time To Hunt travelled wide for most of the race before hitting the front as the field turned for home.

Time To Hunt skipped clear with a nice turn of foot, downing Classic Jack by one length.

“Mitch got off him last start at Mt Barker and wasn’t happy with him, he had no room and didn’t like the corner there so he was bit more suited at Albany,” Hunter said.

“He has a bit of form on the board and he showed that the other day.’

“I was confident going into the run because I know he’s a quality horse.

“We have started the season sort of a bit quiet, so it’s good to bring up a double for the stable and have some hard work pay off.”

Albany jockey Natasha Faithfull rode a winning double aboard Regal Rebelle and Lady Stingray on the eight-race card.

Faithfull sent the Des Attwell-trained Lady Stingray straight to the front and they were never troubled, beating the favourite Pure Magnus comfortably in the Hygain Regain Handicap (1230m).

Regal Rebelle saluted at $15 odds for Faithfull and trainer Steve Wolfe in race two, finishing powerfully from last on the turn to gun down Hunter’s Dolly’s Dream and Wolfe stablemate Demeritise.