"I thought the Cup run was slightly below what we had hoped for, but then again, that's group one racing at the highest level - it's all a part of being able to mix it with them," he said.
The draw and the unique mile start point at Addington made Franco Ledger's task in the New Zealand Free-For-All too difficult.
"I was very, very pleased with him then.
"He didn't get a run. That type of race is luck, on top of luck, on top of luck," Hunter said.
"He's very well. He might lack racing, but other than that, we're very pleased with them."
Sleepy Tripp is one of Franco Ledger's rivals in the cup, but is struggling to find winning form since his return from injury, running four straight seconds in his past four starts, but must be conceded an each-way hope.
Four Starzzz Flash was excellent running under four minutes in the Ashburton Cup.
The Whatever Syndicate also co-own In The Kitty along with Hunter, and he is drawn to get a soft run behind Robyn's Raider.
The Falcon Seelster colt deservedly graduated from the maiden grade with a ¼-length win at Winton on December 22.
"He's been a really nice 3-year old - he was placed in the Sires Stakes Silver, so that's probably his level," Hunter said.
"The horse in front looks favourable and it's 2000m so hopefully we're no worse than three back anyway."
Hunter owns Highview Robyn, who is not too far from her first win.
"She's a lower-grade maiden, and she's been going around every week and funnily enough, she's getting slightly better," he said.
"She's drawn reasonably, too.
"The distance is right up her alley and the class of horse is right up her alley."
