The new $200,000 Group 1 for the four-year-old pacers at Addington Raceway on Friday, December 6 will be known as The Christian Cullen.
An on-line poll was held to decide the name of the race, and it was a close run thing.
There were three finalists – The Christian Cullen, The Terror To Love and The Southern Cross.
Voting on HRNZ’s Facebook page closed last Friday, with The Christian Cullen edging out The Southern Cross.
“Christian Cullen seems an ideal fit for this new race,” says Addington Raceway Chief Executive Brian Thompson, “he was an outstanding four-year-old himself, and some of his greatest performances were seen here at Addington.”
“So much so that of course there is a Christian Cullen Lounge here already!”
As a four-year-old Christian Cullen was unbeatable. He won 12 from 12 including the 1998 New Zealand Cup, the Auckland Cup and the Miracle Mile.
Harness racing’s pin up boy at the time, over all the Brian O’Meara-trained star won 22 from 31 starts and over $1.2m in stakes.
“His four-year-old season was just perfection,” says HRNZ’s Head of Racing and Wagering Matthew Peden, “to win 12 from 12 and over $750,000 in stakes was an incredible effort and it only seems right that there is a race like this to celebrate his achievements.”
A competition was held to name the new 4YO Classic, with two people submitting The Christian Cullen. A “coin toss” confirmed the winner as well known Southland owner-breeder Paul Hailes.
He will win two tickets to the Silks Lounge (including food and drink) or six tickets to the ZM On The Green on Cup Day and has the opportunity to be on the stage trackside to watch the race and presentation and then attend the Breckon Winning Owners’ bar with the winning connections.
Now 29, Christian Cullen is spending his retirement at Dancingonmoonlight in North Canterbury but on December 6 it’s hoped he will be front and centre at Addington once again, leading out the field for the race named in his honour.
