What’s in a name? Rugby and racing

There’s been plenty of owners willing to label their equine friends after those that they’ve followed on the field of play. With the third test between Ireland and the All Blacks set to be played on Saturday night (Jul. 16) we have a look at the champion types that stood out, both between the posts and on the harness racing track.

Christian Cullen

In the stadium

Born 1976. Nicknamed the Paekakariki Express, Christian Cullen played provincial rugby for Wellington and Manuwatu and was a stalwart of the Hurricanes Super Rugby franchise while his later playing days were spent with Munster.

An All Black fullback and winger, Christian Cullen became known for his explosive pace and ability to open up defensive lines from broken play. After being named in the All Blacks for the first time in 1996 Cullen would go onto Score 46 tries for the national side in 60 test match appearances. He was also part of the Gold medalist sevens rugby side from the 1998 Kuala Lumpur Commonwealth Games, the New Zealand side included sevens star Eric Rush and the late Jonah Lomu.

His post-playing days have been spent as part of the Sky Sports Television coverage team along with a current stint as a commercial sales consultant with Property Brokers.

On the track

Foaled 1994. By In The Pocket Out of Pleasant Franco (a dam that would also leave the likes of Kate’s first and Oscar De La Hoya) Christian Cullen, trained by Brian O’Meara, enjoyed almost unprecedented racing success throughout Australasia in the mid to late 1990’s winning 22 of his 32 race day starts.

A victory in the Group 2 Welcome Stakes at just his 4^th start was a sign of things to come.

His first Group 1 win came in the Sires Stakes final of 1997 with a victory over Holmes D G when driven by Ricky May with the Group 1 “The Round Up Free-For-All” following soon after.

Late 1998 saw Christian Cullen at his unbeatable best with the horse winning the New Zealand Cup over Iraklis and the NZ Free-For-All over Holmes D G during Cup Week. A Trans-Tasman flight then saw Danny Campbell “let him down” in spectacular style to leave his Miracle Mile rivals in his wake. The mile-rate for the Australian feature a then blistering 1.54.4 over the 1760m distance.

A return trip to New Zealand was made after a Treuer Memorial victory and added the 1998 Auckland Cup to his growing list of famous conquests. His victory in that race coming over the Mark Purdon trained Bogan Fella.

Successes in 1999 included two Cambridge Group 2 titles in the Cambridge 4yr-old Classic and Flying Mile.

His stakes earnings sitting above $1.2 million at his retirement from racing.

CHRISTIAN CULLEN 1998 NZ CUP WIN

As a sire Christian Cullen has enjoyed the greatest of records with his progeny including the likes of Stunin Cullen (A G Hunter Cup victor) Mainland Banner (NZ Cup winner of 2005) and Christen Me (Easter Cup, Auckland Cup and NZ Free-For-All winner)  NZ bred winners by Christian Cullen number close to 1000 individuals while that number is surpassed at a canter when adding in his Australian performers.

Anton Oliver

On the field

Born 1975. Anton Oliver played for both Marlborough and Otago at provincial level while also spending over a decade plying his trade with with the Highlanders Super Rugby team. A rugged hooker, Oliver appeared in the All Blacks side on 59 occasions, scoring 3 tries for the champion side.

On being named captain of the New Zealand national team (he had captained a number of new Zealand under-age teams as a teenager) Oliver made history, joining his father Frank as the only father-son duo to captain the famous All Blacks.

Life after rugby has seen Oliver spend time at the University of Oxford and be employed by asset managers M&G of London. His autobiography “inside” met with favourable reviews.

On the track

Foaled 2005. The Alex Hastie trained son of I Am A Fool out of Money Back proved just as tough as his rugby-playing namesake. An uncompromising racing style, racing often from the parked-out or leading position, become a hallmark of his 20 New Zealand starts.

A winning debut at Ashburton in September of 2011 over Jivin Cullen was quickly followed by another victory three weeks later at Addington when defeating the Mark Purdon and Grant Payne trained Paddy Brown. A consistent performer Anton Oliver was never too far away from placing. His last victory on NZ soil coming in May of 2014 when scoring over the 1980m in a slick time of 2.23.6. His NZ racing record stood at 20 starts for four wins and seven minor placings.

On being exported to Australia Anton Oliver achieved only fair results, adding three more wins over some 21 starts, two of which were at Globe Derby.

Colin Meads

On the field

Born 1936. Widely regarded as one of the best to play the game of rugby. Sir Colin Meads (voted Player of the Century at the NZRFU awards of 1999) played for King Country at provincial level and represented the national side 55 times. He also captained the All Black team on a number of occasions.

Nicknamed “Pine Tree” for his physicality and size, Meads made his All Blacks debut in 1957 and participated in the famed 1971 British and Irish Lions tour where he led the NZ side as captain.

His presence was not enough to inspire the All Blacks to victory however, with the British and Irish Lions team ( which included stars John Dawes, Gerald Davies, J.P.R Williams and John Pullin) going through the tour losing only one match and winning the series after victories at Carisbrook in Dunedin and Athletic Park in Wellington (a drawn last game at Eden Park in Auckland proving enough for the visitors to clinch the series overall)

After retiring from rugby in 1973 Meads held positions with the New Zealand Rugby Union Council and King Country Rugby. Meads passed away in 2017 after earlier being diagnosed with pancreatic cancer.

On the track

Foaled 2004. By Courage Under Fire out of Peppy Del. A 1/2 brother to the Group 1 placed Spring Alot (9 wins,$90’000 earnings) Colin Meads must of grown tired of carrying his own name.

Trained initially by David and Catherine Butt, Colin Meads won a trial in September of 2009 but his race day appearances were less impressive. Transferred to the stable of Mark Harrington after three race day starts Colin Meads peaked in his race day efforts by placing 6^th behind Dream Deposit at Reefton in March of 2010.

Colin Meads finished his racing career with earnings on the track of $419 from 5 starts

Honourable mentions (NZ based horses)  

O’Gara Foaled 2010. Real Desire out of Happy Summer. 20 raceday starts. 1 win , 1 second place Career earnings $6’500

O’Driscoll (One of two of the same name) Foaled 2010. Sundon out of Frances Jay Bee – 23 raceday starts . 2 wins, 5 minor placings. Career earnings $13’000

Rokococo Foaled 2002. Union Guy out of Alvaray  – 8 raceday starts. No minor placings. Career earnings $632 dollars

Merhtens Foaled 1995. Silk Legacy out of Rosewood Stream. NZ racing record 17 starts. 3 wins, 3 minor placings. Career earnings $12’000

McCaw Foaled 2001. Presidential Ball out of Money Back. A close relation to Anton Oliver. NZ race record 45 raceday starts, 3 wins, 15 minor placings Career earnings $25’000.

McCaw, on being exported to Australia, was renamed Quick Draw McCaw NZ. Winning the Western Australian Nights Of Thunder Final at Group 2 level.

by Ben McMillan, for Harnesslink