Cullen looks to continue golden run

There are strong fields across the whole harness racing card at Addington tomorrow night and West Melton trainer Hayden Cullen who’s been experiencing a golden run, has some strong candidates for the eleven race card.

Quality trotter Major Cyclone (Father Patrick) takes the next step up after impressively winning at his last start and the three year old squaregaiter will be racing some well tried veterans in Race Two.

“He seems good and has come through his last run really well. It’s been three weeks between runs and he’ll take improvement from the race. His coat is just starting to turn and it’s starting to get a real shine on it. He seems in a real good place at the moment,” Cullen said.

Two start maiden Captain Moonlight (Always B Miki) takes on a quality field of fellow two year olds in Race Three. He gets a good draw at three.

“I’m happy with him and I wasn’t disappointed with his last run either. It was a massive step up in class and he was three and a half weeks between runs. He’s taken a lot of improvement out of his last start at Oamaru and I’m very pleased with his training this week. He has grown a bit in the last six to eight weeks and I think he’ll make a better three year old. He might surprise a few.”

In Race Four Cullen has three runners: Trump Card (Rock N Roll Heaven), We Walk By Faith (Bettor’s Delight) and Justcallmemiki (Always B Miki).

Trump Card was left parked in his last run and gets a good draw tomorrow night.

“I wasn’t too disappointed with that first up run. It was a bit of an ask lining up in that race because he’d only had two trials. They ran along and he only just chucked it in, in that last 100 and probably had every right to. He’s trained on very well and gained in fitness. From the draw he has got a bit of gate speed if we want to use it. He’ll be a much improved runner this week.”

All eyes will be on We Walk By Faith who’s having his first race for the stable. He had his last start at Addington in May in the Sires’ Stakes Final where he got within a nose of beating Chase A Dream.

“We’re happy with his three trials and I’m very pleased with his work this week. He’ll take a lot of improvement from the run (Friday night) and it’s going to be difficult from the draw. We’re pretty forward with his fitness and if we get any luck in the running he’ll go a good race.”

Justcallmemiki returned to winning form at Addington last week but is not favoured by a second row draw.

“He’s a nice big horse and we’ve been trying to drive him for one run but it’s never really panned out that way. They’ll definitely bowl along on Friday night and we’ll get to see him follow them round. If he’s handy enough turning in he’s got a good turn of foot. I can see him finishing in the top five.”

In Race Nine Cullen lines up Perun (Betting Line) who draws wide at seven.

“I’m happy with him. He’s no champion and is probably stepping up in class a bit here. We’ll probably have to drop back off the gate and drive him for a bit of luck.”

by Bruce Stewart, for Harnesslink