Another placing at listed level for local sprinter

Albany sprinter Dream Lifter has produced another impressive effort at listed level, after charging home to finish third in Sunday’s $120,000 APH Contractors Bunbury Stakes (1400m) at the Bunbury Turf Club.

Great Southern hoop Mitchell Pateman gave the brilliant gelding a lovely trip in running just off the speed but he was crowded for room briefly in the home straight before getting out and hitting top gear to run third, beaten by 2¼ lengths behind winner Man Booker.

Carrying the heavy 59kg impost for Albany trainer Paul Hunter, Dream Lifter continued his excellent preparation, which has included runner-up placings in the Mungrup Stud Sprint and Cyril Flower Stakes.

The seven-year-old has one win and five minor placings from eight starts in black type races.

On the same day, Albany trainer Gerry Hughes had promising youngster Gradual Incline run in the listed $100,000 Rangeview Stud Classic (1400m).

Ridden by Glenn Smith, the three-year-old settled midfield and was third on the corner before tiring in the home straight to run fifth, beaten by 7¼ lengths by the winner, Quilista. Meanwhile, Albany apprentice jockey Casey Hunter has scored another country cup triumph, winning the $10,000 Murray Reid Memorial Pingrup Cup on Saturday aboard Galinba Blast.

Trained locally by Alan Smith, the veteran galloper led all the way for Hunter to win by 2½ lengths over the Paul Parsons-trained Storm Ending. Hunter and Galinba Blast won the $10,000 Norseman Cup back on March 11.