Cullens on Cup Day

Hayden and Amanda Cullen have some quality stock heading to Addington tomorrow for New Zealand’s biggest day in harness racing.

The Rolleston based couple have ten starters, with Arafura (Sweet Lou) at $2.45 their shortest priced runner.

Their day starts mid card in the $60,000 Group Two TAB Junior Free-For All when Hadron Collider (Sweet Lou) lines up in a small but talented field.

The four year old gets a wide draw but it shouldn’t be an issue with the race run over 2600 metres.

“They normally go quick and even though he’s draw wide he’d be a pretty good chance,” Hayden said.

He got too far back in the Age Group Classic at Kaikoura.

“We were getting a drag into it by our stablemate (Harrison John) and one (Radha) broke in front of us.”  

Mystery Creek (Bettor’s Delight) and Zeus Lightning (Bettor’s Delight) are running for the Cullens in the $200,000 Group One Woodlands Stud Sires’ Stakes Final.

Both have drawn on the outside of Jumal and Fugitive, who are likely to go forward.

“He’s (Mystery Creek) a progressive y type but he’s going to make a better three year old. I didn’t think we’d get in the race because we were twenty seventh on the list (eligible) but we got a start. I think if he could run top five or six it would be a great achievement.”

Zeus Lightning was impressive on debut and has been very solid since.

“In the last three or four weeks he’s really got tall. He just needs to strengthen up a bit more again. From his draw, hopefully we can drive him just for one run and use his speed, because he is very quick. He’s another one that I think is going to be a much better three year old.”

Hayden and Amanda have a three pronged attack for the $200,000 Nevele R Three Year Old Fillies Final, with Winelight (Downbytheseaside), Arafura (Sweet Lou) and General Jen (Captaintreacherous).

Winelight gets the best draw at gate two. She was forced to do too much work at her last start at Ashburton and battled home for fifth.

“It was the story of the day at Ashburton. Everything that drew wide had to make moves for themselves if nothing else moved. I’m rapt with her and she’s come on from the race. She’s got a great barrier draw and she’s got great gate speed. She’ll put herself in the race and I’m sure she’ll run a cracker.”

Last start winner Arafura hasn’t missed a beat this preparation and is perhaps the most versatile of the Cullen trio. She draws barrier five and will be handled by Mark Purdon.

“She seems to be peaking at the right time. I haven’t been able to fault her this whole campaign. Her training seems super and she’s a million dollars. If Mark can get her into the right place at the right time she’ll go a great race.”

General Jen draws the inside of the second row. Her course and distance stats are impeccable, but she will require luck from her draw.

“She’s one that’s probably best saved up for one run anyway. If they bowl along up front and a couple of gaps open up she’s definitely got the speed to put herself in the finish.”

In the $30,000 Avon City Ford Mobile Pace, Wish Me Luck (Vincent) gets a tough draw with two of the favoured runners, Rock Or Bust and It’s Tough drawing on his inside.

“He’s just in that tricky rating band at the moment. I can’t fault his work. His work this morning (Sunday) is the best he’s worked this campaign. He’s going to need luck from the draw but if we can get that he should be thereabouts.”

Cullen Racing has three runners in this year’s $1,000,000 IRT New Zealand Trotting Cup with Vessem (Vincent), We Walk By Faith (Bettor’s Delight) and Don’t Stop Dreaming (Bettor’s Delight) lining up.

Vessem got too far back in the Kaikoura Cup, finishing ninth.

“Once he got back it was pretty much all over on that track. He’s trained on well but he’s a year away from being a serious contender in the Cup. If he can go away, find the shortcuts and run sixth or seventh it’ll be a great effort.”

We Walk By Faith was left parked in the Ashburton Flying Stakes and battled home for eighth, but was only 6.6 lengths away from the winner Republican Party. He was taken to the Cup Trials on Wednesday.

“I only took him back as a bit of a confidence builder. He’s had a couple of runs where he’s had no luck at all. I wanted to take him to the trials and finish on the bridles and make him feel good about himself again. He’s just a baby in the open class ranks. His best chance of winning a New Zealand Cup is probably twelve months away.”

Don’t Stop Dreaming is the richest earning Kiwi runner in this year’s feature. He ran second to Swayzee in the Cup last year and tomorrow draws two on the outside of the second row.

“The draw’s not ideal. I’m super happy with him. He’s got better and better with each run. He’s also best when saved up for one run. It’ll be a true run race and he’ll get his chance if someone can drag him into it.”

When it comes down to his best Cup chance, Hayden says it’s fifty fifty between We Walk By Faith and Don’t Stop Dreaming.

“It’ll come down to who gets the best run I think.”

by Bruce Stewart, for Harnesslink