Albany trainer Paul Hunter will saddle up nine runners at Mt Barker Turf Club

Albany trainer Paul Hunter will take a strong team to Mt Barker Turf Club for the third meeting of the Great Southern racing season tomorrow.

Hunter has nine runners engaged on the seven-race program as he looks to add to his early season winner Worzel.

He will saddle up three runners in the second race over 1100m and will also have a three-pronged attack in the Wonderful Plantagenet Region Handicap (1200m).

The long-time local trainer has welcomed former Martin Allan gallopers Sauvegarde and Worzel to his stable in recent weeks and they rate among his best chances.

Without being too confident Hunter said his better runners on the card include Sauvegarde, Sax On Que, Big Summer, Time To Hunt and Worzel.

“We have had a couple in work for a while and have picked up a few and with races every fortnight if you miss a meeting it’s a month between runs down here so we have entered a nice team,” Hunter said.

“Sax On Que and Sauvegarde look like strong chances in a handy little race.

“Big Summer was a strong run first-up and we think he is a staying horse so he’s a chance, Worzel was a reasonable maiden winner last start but steps up in class and Time To Hunt is going well.

“I’m not super confident but there is a few good chances and we are just poking along.”

Jessica Gray is Hunter’s stable apprentice and will ride four for the stable.

“She has been riding well and hopefully she can add a winner on (tomorrow),” Hunter said.

“She is a horsewomen.

“She has a good connection with my horses and she knows horses well so I’m happy to have her.”

Meanwhile Sarah Searle has two runners at tomorrow’s meeting after having her first starter in seven years at the recent Albany meet.

Searle has former Eastern States galloper The Big Boy in race four and Schoolwork in race five.

“We are just trying to work both horses out and find out how they like to race,” she said.

“I was a bit bored so I thought I would turn that into excitement and exhaustion by training and I’m having a lot of fun.”

The first race will be run at 2.06pm in Mt Barker.