By Jonny Turner
After securing one of the most satisfying wins of his career, Hayden Cullen can cap an outstanding weekend at Oamaru on Sunday.
The trainer heads south hot on the heels of producing Winelight to win the $150,000 NZB Standardbred Harness Million Two-Year-Old Fillies Final at Addington on Friday night.
While no stranger to big race success following his time with Mark Purdon and the All Stars Stable, Cullen and his family have taken their solo training operation to big heights from humble beginnings, in little over a year.
“It all started from nothing really, at the start it was just Dad and I working up a few pre-trainers,” the trainer said.
“But we got some younger horses that were able to race in the grades and they were winning and it built from there.”
Cullen has built so quickly, he had more starters in feature races at Addington on Friday night than most trainers.
And given the journey he has been on over the past year, winning a rich Harness Million feature gave him a huge buzz.
“It was sensational, a huge thrill and it makes all the hard work pay off.”
Cullen has three starters at Oamaru on Sunday including Major Cyclone, in the Phillips Horse Transport Trot. He could also make his way into feature races soon.
“He is quite a nice horse and he’s been going good races.”
“But he hasn’t quite been trotting 100%, so we have done a bit of work with the farrier and he seems a lot better.”
Major Cyclone is raced by Cullen Racing Stables and leading West Australian Greg Bond who is a slot-holder for the inaugural running of the $500,000 The Ascent.
“Safely through Sunday we have our eyes on the Hambletonian, Greg has a slot for him in The Velocity, all going well he can head through to Show Day.”
Cullen also starts Arafura in race 5, the Denice Swain Memorial Fillies Mobile Pace.
The filly went a solid race in her debut, getting too far back chasing a smart winner in The Lazarus Effect.
“I am quite happy with her.”
“She drew out in that first start and I said to Craig (Ferguson) to drive her for luck and see if she can run home, which she did.”
“She seems to have improved with that run, she has worked a lot better this week.”
Cullen will also start Louie Massimo in race 6, the Republican Party Road to the New Zealand Cup Mobile Pace. It is the horse’s first public appearance of the spring.
“He is coming up well, I decided not to trial him but I’ve been happy with his work.”
“He has a bit of gate speed, so the option is there to go forward and get handy.”
“He should be an each way chance.”
Olivia Thornley handles Louie Massimo fresh off steering Winelight to her Harness Million victory.
Bob Butt takes the reins behind Arafura and Major Cyclone.
