Cullen warming to draw for Trump card

Hayden Cullen’s initial disappointment with Trump Card’s (Rock N Roll Heaven) harness racing draw for the $50,000 Woodlands Stud Sires’ Stakes Harness 7000 at Addington tonight didn’t last long.

A quick piece of video research has the Canterbury trainer thinking one on the second line might work out perfectly for his three-year-old.

He won twice over the winter before being brought back and set for this race and potentially a busy back end to the season.

Trump Card looked ready for tonight when he won a sharp trial at Rangiora last week, beating Vessem, All You Need Is Me and We Walk By Faith, some serious three-year-old firepower.

Cullen admits when he first saw his second line starting position he was annoyed.

“But the more I have looked at it even though the horse we follow out (Revolution) is a maiden he isn’t a bad one.

“In his first start in a good field at Addington he left the mobile very fast so if he does that again and stays handy I think our horse can get a good run through.

“I am not saying he is the horse to follow but I think he will leave well enough for us to punch through and then have options.”

Cullen thinks Trump Card is a good stayer and would be suited by a hard run 1980m.

Two of the country’s most respected stables could dominate later races on the card tonight, with Mark and Nathan Purdon having Vessem (R7, No.4) and Mr Kaplan (R8, No.9) looking big chances while trotting supremo Paul Nairn has Confessional on the front line in Race 6 and both favourite Masterly and Tu Tangata in Race 9.

For complete race entries, click here.

by Michael Guerin, for Harness Racing New Zealand