Trainer Paul Hunter has two runners in 2022 Mt Barker Cup as he chases second win in the feature race

Albany trainer Paul Hunter has a two-pronged attack in the $35,000 Mt Barker Cup (2000m) on Sunday, as he looks to secure his second win in the race. Hunter will have Scream in Blue and Western King engaged in the feature race at the Mt Barker Turf Club. The long-time Albany trainer won the race back in 2010 with Timely Reign and believes he is right in the mix to claim his second cup. Scream In Blue will be ridden by Jason Whiting while Jade McNaught will jump aboard Western King in the final field of 12. Hunter is leaning towards Scream In Blue as the best of his two runners. “Scream In Blue has been going super but hasn’t been able to draw a gate at its last few starts including this Sunday so that’s the only negative,” he said. “I think Scream In Blue will be very competitive in this and is a bit better than a fair few of them. “If Scream In Blue can get the right run I think he will be right in the mix. “He is a bit more genuine then Western King. “Scream In Blue is going good and did a nice bit of work (Wednesday) so I expect him to run well.” Scream In Blue finished fourth in the Albany Cup last year and was a winner four starts back. The six-year-old gelding ran a nice third last start and will carry 54kg but has to contend with a wide draw, jumping from barrier 11. Western King hasn’t won for more than a year and will carry 54kg from barrier nine. “Western King is a bit of quirky horse on the day,” Hunter said. “He is only fair and we are looking for further with him. “The barrier makes it a bit more difficult for both of them.” Corporate Larrikin won the 2021 edition and will be back to defend his title while rising four-year-old Chiclett is set to run favourite for co-trainers Dan and Ben Pearce. Sowar is the top weight with 59kg in the Mt Barker Cup, which attracted 13 nominations and headlines an eight-race program.