By Mike Love
Wish Me Luck will be looking to continue the success of Hayden and Amanda Cullen’s brilliant start to their training partnership at Ashburton today.
The five-year-old Vincent gelding is looking to go back to back in the Gallagher Insurance Ashburton Cup over 3200m after winning the Amberley cup on Waitangi day.
“He’s come through Rangiora really well. He seems bright and he’s trained on great,” said Amanda Cullen.
It will be Wish Me Luck’s first attempt at the extreme distance of 3200m but that does not concern Cullen.
“He’s such a genuine racehorse. The more practice from a stand he gets the better.”
To be driven by the country’s top driver Blair Orange, Wish Me Luck is a pronounced favourite at $2.05 for the Cup (2.43pm).
“We will leave it up to Blair to assess things based on how he gets away.”
Wish Me Luck has won six of his 17 race day starts, while placing on seven occasions.
Other chances in the event include the Steve Harding trained Audacity, while Dance Till Dawn is in the market for Robert and Jenna Dunn.
The Cullens also prepare Bonnie’s Girl in Race 8, the Allenton Pharmacy Fillies and Mares Mobile Pace over 1700m, again with Blair Orange in the sulky.
“She wasn’t one hundred percent in her gait at Oamaru last start. But we took her to the trials since then and the report was that she was much better.”
“We are expecting a better run but it’s not an easy field so we will just leave it up to Blair and see how she’s travelling.”
The Cullen combination have won three from 12 so far with four placings in what has been a dream start for the pair.
“It’s been really good and all is going well.”
And things are looking cherry in the near future after some quality purchases at the recent NZB Standardbred National yearling Sales with five quality purchases.
Downbytheseaside X Bettor Be A Lady (Colt, $150,000)
What The Hill X Eilish Aimee (Colt, $32,500)
Captaintreacherous X Imaginary Bet (Colt, $160,000)
Art Major X Agree With Me (Colt, $90,000)
Bettors Delight X Hopes And Dreams (Filly, $70,000).
Race 1 today is due to go at 12:05pm.