Don Hunter joins dam on Group One honour roll

2 November 2026

PAUL COURTS 

OUTSTANDING freshman Don Hunter had no trouble joining his dam on one of New South Wales' most prestigious Group One honour rolls on Saturday night.

By Huntsville, Don Hunter is from former top filly Miss Halfpenny which was retired with 10 wins and 13 placings from 34 starts for a bankroll of $235,403.

Trained by Paul Fitzpatrick, Miss Halfpenny's victories include the 2018 Breeders' Challenge Final for two-year-old fillies at Club Menangle.

Miss Halfpenny's half-sister Anntonia won the 2021 Three-Year-Old Final Breeders' Challenge at Club Menangle in an Australasian record 1:49.8.

Competing at the same venue, Don Hunter secured the Breeders' Challenge Final for two-year-old colts and geldings.

With trainer Luke McCarthy in the cart, Don Hunter worked to the lead from barrier six before dashing to a five-and-a-half metre win from Disturbance, with Facet Prince a metre-and-a-half away third.

Disturbance is a brother to 2023 Two-Year-Old Fillies' Final winner Lux Aeterna.

"I was happy with his draw, barrier six coming into five, so I was always going to look for the front," McCarthy said. "He had to work his way to the lead, but felt strong the whole time.

"After he got the front he just did it well within himself and found the line nicely."
Covering the 1609-metre sprint in 1:51.1, the colt stretched his record to seven wins and a third from nine starts for a bankroll of $228,440.

"He's a very nice colt," McCarthy said. "Tony (Licastro, part-owner) picked him out at the sale and he's working out very nicely.

"A few of the guys in him are first time standardbred owners, so they've kicked it off with a good one straight away."