By Michael Guerin
The next phase of Hayden Cullen’s training career is building momentum and he hopes that continues at Addington’s twilight meeting today.
Cullen and wife Amanda reset their business after leaving the All Stars and then Team Telfer but have good numbers around them now.
“When I went out on my own there was a few racehorses but it was mainly breaking in a lot of young horses,” says Cullen.
“But we have built up a nice team now of 20 and getting some lovely outside horses and in the last month things have really turned around.”
That has seen Cullen train three winners from just 10 runners this season and he has winning hopes in two races this afternoon.
The first of those is Wish Me Luck (R2, No.5) who was opened favourite by the TAB bookies with Sam Thornley in the sulky for the Fahey Fence Hire junior driver’s race.
“I think he has to be really hard to beat, especially with Sam driving as he will get some respect,” says Cullen.
“I thought the danger was Amore Infida but it is fresh up and I will be telling Sam to stay in front of it.”
Wish Me Luck sat parked for the last 1000m before going down narrowly to a smart horse in Double Jeopardy last start and will only need to reach that level again to be the one to beat, although Amore Infida has shown good talent and is the obvious danger.
The form isn’t as easy to line up in the next race, the Woodlands Stud Supporting Our Future 2YO Fillies race in which Cullen has both General Jen and Winelight.
They finished first and second in their latest trial, General Jen winning and while the time wasn’t as fast as usual at Ashburton, their trainer says the track raced slow that day and he likes both fiillies.
“General Jen has been the move advanced and maybe she still is but Winelight is getting better every day and I really like her.
“It could be a tricky race because it is hard to know how good the others might be and what gate speed they have and who likes to go forward.
“Both of ours have tricky enough draws that they might be better settling early and rolling into it later.”
The eight-race card features a $25,000 Magness Benrow Nevele R Fillies Heat for the three-year-olds in which Queen Of Swords (R6, No.1) has the draw to be the one to beat but the small field should aid the well-related Aardie B Miki (No.6).
