The couple from Rolleston have ten starters, with Arafura (Dear Lou) their shortest priced runner at $2.45.
Their day starts mid-card in the $60,000 Group Two TAB Junior Free-For All when Hadron Collider (Dear Lou) is in a small but talented field.
The four-year-old gets a big lead, but that should not be a problem with the race over 2600 meters.
“Normally they go fast and even if he’s wide, he’d have a pretty good chance,” Hayden said.
He came too far back in the Age Group Classic in Kaikoura.
“We got dragged into it by our stablemate (Harrison John) and one (Radha) broke in front of us.”
Mystery Creek (Bettor’s joy) and Zeus Lightning (Bettor’s joy) are contenders for the Cullens in the $200,000 Group One Woodlands Stud Sires’ Stakes Final.
Both have called on the outside of Jumal and Fugitive, which will likely move on.
“He’s (Mystery Creek) a progressive Y-type, but he’ll be a better three-year-old. I didn’t think we’d get into the race because we were twenty-seventh on the list (eligible), but we had a start. I think it would be a great achievement if he could run in the top five or six.”
Zeus Lightning was impressive in his debut and has been very solid since.
“In the last three or four weeks he has really grown up. He just needs to get a bit stronger again. Hopefully based on his draw we can only ride him once and use his speed because he is very fast. He is another one who I think will 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 Finale, with Winelight (On the coast), Arafura (Dear Lou) and General Jen (Captain Treacherous).
Winelight gets the best draw at gate two. She had to put in too much work on her last start at Ashburton and battled home for fifth place.
“It was the story of the day at Ashburton. Anyone going wide had to make moves for themselves when nothing else was moving. I love her and she has come back from the race. She has a great barrier draw and she has great gate speed. She will put herself in the race and I am sure she will be a stunner.”
Last start winner Arafura has not missed a second of this preparation and is perhaps the most versatile of the Cullen trio. She draws barrier five and is handled by Mark Purdon.
“She seems to be peaking at the right time. I couldn’t fault her all campaign. Her training seems great and she is a million bucks. If Mark can get her in the right place at the right time, she will have a great race.”
General Jen draws the inside of the second row. Her course and distance stats are impeccable, but she will need luck in her draw.
“She’s someone who is probably best saved for one run. If they come around the front and a few gaps open up, she certainly has the speed to put herself in the finish.”
Wish me luck in the $30,000 Avon City Ford Mobile Pace (Vincent) gets a tough draw with two of the favorite runners, Rock Or Bust and It’s Tough, pulling on his insides.
“He’s just in that tough rating bracket at the moment. I can’t fault his work. His work this morning (Sunday) is the best he’s done this season. He’ll need some luck in the draw, but if we can achieve that he should be around there.”
Cullen Racing has three entries in this year’s $1,000,000 IRT New Zealand Trotting Cup with Vessem (Vincent), We walk by faith (Bettor’s joy) and don’t stop dreaming (Bettor’s joy) standing in line.
Vessem came too far back in the Kaikoura Cup and finished ninth.
“Once he came back, it was pretty much all over at that track. He’s been training well, but he’s still a year away from being a serious Cup contender. If he can get away, find the shortcuts and run sixth or seventh, it will be a big effort.”
We Walk By Faith remained parked in the Ashburton Flying Stakes, battling for eighth place, but was only 6.6 lengths clear of the Republican Party winner. On Wednesday he was taken to the Cup Trials.
“I just took him to build confidence. He’s had a few runs where he wasn’t lucky 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. His best chance of winning the New Zealand Cup is probably in 12 months.”
Don’t Stop Dreaming is the highest-earning Kiwi runner in this year’s section. Last year he ran second behind Swayzee in the Cup and tomorrow he will be two even on the outside of the second row.
“The draw is not ideal. I am very happy with him. He is getting better with every run. He is also best when he is spared for one run. It will be a real foot race and he will get his chance if someone can drag him into it.”
When it comes to his best cup odds, Hayden says it’s ‘fifty fifty’ between We Walk By Faith and Don’t Stop Dreaming.
“It will come down to who makes the best run, I think.”
Through Bruce Stewartfor Harnesslink
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