Justcallmemiki wins for Cullen and Bond

Justcallmemiki (Always B Miki) with his impressive win last night at Addington continues the rising success of West Melton harness racing trainer Hayden Cullen.

The win was Cullen’s eighth of the season from just thirty starters. Driver Blair Orange took the three year old to the top and got away with some cheap sectionals before skying away to win by three and a quarter lengths from Commander Joe. Justcallmemiki is owned by West Australian trainer Greg Bond.

JUSTCALLMEMIKI REPLAY

“It was a good test going over that journey (2600 metres) to see where we were at. Obviously he had to work a bit to get to the front. Blair controlled things nicely in the middle stages and we didn’t get any pressure at all. I think he could have gone harder if he wanted to,” Cullen said, adding that he’ll look at lining up Justcallmemiki in two weeks times.

“Depending on what happens after that, we’ll make a bit of a call. We’ve got those good three year old races later in the year. It’d be nice to line him up in those sorts of races if he’s good enough. We’ll get a better line on him at his next start against those better quality horses.”

The gelding is out of 16 race winner Alchemist which won five races for Paul Kerr and a further 11 in Australia, including a number of group placings.

As a broodmare Alchemist has left good Country Cup performer Lester (Bettor’s Delight) and Alta Meteor, (Art Major) the winner of 10.

Bond purchased Justcallmemiki for $20,000 at the 2021 National Weanling Sales in Auckland. The gelding qualified and won two races for Brent Mangos and he’s been in Cullen’s stable since last month.

Cullen’s two quality two year old fillies, General Jen (Captaintreacherous) and Winelight, (Downbytheseaside) which ran third and fourth consecutively in the Group Three Leonord Memorial in April, have returned to the stable and are preparing for some of the bigger races later in the year.

“They both look very good. They’ve filled out and grown a lot. They had their first day in the hopples on Friday. We’ll look at Sires Stakes for them and Winelight is also eligible for the Harness Million. Hopefully we’ll earn a bit of money to get into the Ace Of Diamonds.”

Junior driver Olivia Thornley has recently joined the team.

“We’ve been lucky enough for the racing team to build up to what it is and to be able to take her on fulltime. She’s been there and done that at All Stars and has driven in all those good races. She’s going to be a big asset to us.”

Ashleigh Royal who worked for Katie Cox and the All Stars stable has also joined the Cullen stable on a part time basis.

The stable numbers have also been bolstered by the Group One winning gelding We Walk By Faith (Bettor’s Delight).

“He arrived the other day and he’s just completed two weeks jogging. He’ll do another two weeks jogging then we’ll get the gear on him. He’s another one that hopefully we can line up in those better races later in the year.”

When Cullen started out on his own account he just had the one racehorse and he’s surprised at the level of support he’s got as he’s grown his racing team.

“We gradually got a few racehorses around us and had a little bit of success with them. It just seems to be flowing on now. We sort of want to get twenty five horses and we’re at twenty at the moment. We’ll try and look at quality rather than quantity.”  

His wife Amanda looks after all the stable communications and social media.

“She’s a big part of the team. I couldn’t do it without her.”

The Cullens are based at West Melton where they rent a property from Blair Orange and use Ken Barron’s track which is next door.

For complete race results, click here.

by Bruce Stewart, for Harnesslink