Lightning strikes Addington

It looks like Rolleston trainers Hayden and Amanda Cullen have unleashed a smart two year old judging by the way Zeus Lightning (Bettor’s Delight) won at Addington last night.

Driver Olivia Thornley chose to bide her time at the back with the gelding and the strong pace suited Zeus Lightning.

Turning in, Thornley let him run and with a great turn of foot he put his five rivals away to easily win by three lengths from Lizzie Borden.

ZEUS LIGHTNING REPLAY

“He looks like a nice horse especially after last night. He’s a good size and once he strengthens he’ll make a much better three year old,” Hayden said.

Zeus Lightning is eligible for the Harness Million and Sires’ Stakes.

“We’ll just work out a plan to get him the Sires’ Stakes heats and the Harness Million. We don’t want to over race him.”

Zeus Lightning was an $11,000 purchase at the 2024 NZB Standardbred Yearling Sales in Auckland.

“He was just a little bit toed in but you’d rather them that way than the other way. When they’re toed out they normally hit their knees. When they’re toed in there’s no chance of them hitting their knees. This horse doesn’t even wear knee boots.”

Cullen says Zeus Lightning was a bit of a handful as a yearling.

“He was a bit of a bugger as a colt but as soon as we got him gelded his attitude changed.”

Prior to last night’s debut the two year old had been to three trials.

“We just had a few problems steering him. He’s just been laying in up the home straights and it’s been holding him back a bit. We haven’t been able to let him run up the home straight in the trials he’s had. We’ve got him steering good now.”  

Last night’s win continues the breeding legacy created by the stock of Bettor’s Delight and his success with Christian Cullen mares.

Winners from that cross include Highview Tommy, Lazarus, Self Assured, Akuta and Amazing Dream.

His pedigree runs deep and was developed by Wayne Francis of Spreydon Lodge.

Second dam Galleons Cheer won five of her nine starts for Southland trainer Hamish Hunter. Gary Allen bred from Galleons Cheer and at stud her best winner was Cheer The Lady which won the Group One New Zealand Oaks and a Group One Breeders Crown at Melton.

Galleons Cheer’s first three foals all by Christian Cullen have done a super job at stud.

First foal Galleon Supreme left Spanish Armada, the winner of fourteen of her nineteen starts and $787,470 while second foal Galleons Honour has left multiple winners for the late Lester Smith. Her last foal Duchess Of Kent is unbeaten as a three year old and is on target to start in some of the better three year old fillies races this season.

The third foal of Galleons Cheer, Georgia Brooke, has left Bollinger, the winner of sixteen and now Zeus Lightning, both by Bettor’s Delight.

For complete race results, click here.

by Bruce Stewart, for Harnesslink