Stunin Cullen tuned up for Christmas racing with a comprehensive win at the Rangiora trials yesterday.
Stunin Cullen came from 40m to win over 2600m in 3.17.4 (a 2.02.1 mile rate). The last 800m was run in 56.5, the final 400m in 27.7.
Stunin Cullen settled back and was sent up in the open from the 1200m. He surged to the lead early in the run home and was five lengths clear of stablemate Choise Achiever at the finish.
Stunin Cullen has been freshened since his seventh placings in the New Zealand Cup and Free-For-All in early November.
Trainer Tim Butt, who was impressed by the trial win, said while he was disappointed by the efforts of the 5yr-old over the New Zealand Cup meeting, he felt it had been a good learning curve for the horse.
"The hype of the Cup meeting may have got to him. He was the new kid on the block and was up against horses like Monkey King who were hardened and proven campaigners in the top grade.
"He is only a young, relatively inexperienced horse and he just did not quite step up. But he has time on his side.
"He is as good as any Cup horse I have had," Butt said last night.
The first mission for Stunin Cullen is the $25,000 Ashburton Cup (2400m) on December 26. He will follow that with the $30,000 Central Otago Cup (2600m, mobile) on January 2. The $55,000 Northern Southland Cup (2700m) at Gore on January 13 is also on his agenda.
Butt won the Central Otago Cup last year with Cullen's Creek.
"We could have looked at a race like the Victoria Cup with him but decided to give him an easier option.
"His main target is the Interdominions at Addington in March and we don't want to be too tough on him leading up to those races," Butt said.
"There are some good stakes in the South over the Christmas and New Year."
• Results from the trials at Rangiora yesterday:
Weather, overcast; track, fast.
Qualifying test, trotters, 2600m (first heat): Speedy Gonzalez C Iggo 1; Sunset Palace 2; O Ado 3. Seven started. 1 1/4L; 12 1/2L. Time, 3.41.9 (none qualified).
Second heat: Phelps D Dunn 1; Evander D Go 2; Royearl Quest 3. Five started. Nk; 20L. Time, 3.32 (three qualified). Trainer, M Denton.
Qualifying test, pacers, 2000m: Red Styx S Walkinshaw 1; Frankie Poise 2; Icon's Best 3. Four started. 2 3/4L; 10L. Time, 2.40.8 (none qualified).
Qualifying test, pacers, mobile, 2600m: Peter Pan A Butt 1; Baileys Delight 2. Two started. 2 1/4L. Time, 3.24.5 (two qualified). trainer, D Taylor.
Qualifying test, trotters, mobile, 2000m: Maravu Haley S Walkinshaw 1; Kamwood Laughter 2; Double Happy 3. Six started. 3/4L; ns. Time, 2.32.8 (five qualified). Trainer, R Rennie.
Qualifying test, trotters, mobile, 2000m: So King G Smith 1; Sundon's Sensation 2; St Petersburg p/u. Three started. Ns. Time, 2.48.8 (none qualified).
Qualifying test, pacers, mobile, 2000m: Jayesbe G Smith 1; Cromac Jesse 2; Graham Thomas 3. Six started. 2 1/4L; 4 1/2L. Time, 2.34.1 (four qualified). Trainer, G Smith.
Two-yr-old pacers, mobile, 2000m: Gaylee's Delight D Dunn 1; Alta Mario 2; Empathy 3. Five started. Nk; hd. Time, 2.35.6 (first and third qualified). Trainer, G and N Hope.
0w pacers, mobile 2000m (first heat): Kilarney Guy A Butt 1; Village Anvil 2; Collecting 3. Six started, Nk; 2 1/4L. Time, 2.33.5. Trainer, R Cameron.
Second heat: Amazing Art C De Filippi 1; Opting Options 2; What A Card 3. Seven started. 2L; 2 3/4L. Time, 2.32. Trainer, L Driver.
1w+ pacers, mobile, 2000m: Buriton Bailey A Butt 1; Cullini 2; Yankee dream 3. Four started. 1L; 2L. Time, 2.32.7. Trainer, T Butt.
0w pacers, 2000m: Keating K Williams 1; Meet me In Seattle 2; Adam's Pocket 3. Five started. 1/2L; 1 1/4L. Time, 2.41.2. Trainer, K Williams.
0w trotters, 2600m: Thanesan A Butt 1; Our Blossom 2; Bolton Earl 3. Nine started. 4L; 1L. Time, 3.35.9. Trainer, T Butt.
0w pacers, 2600m: Mr Murdoch B Borcoskie 1; Betstar 2; Tomsincharge 3. Six started. Nk; 3 1/4L. Time, 3.29.9. Trainer, B Borcoskie.
1w+ trotters, 2600m: Vulcan 20 A Butt 1; Medora fr 2; William Tell fr 3. Three started. 7L; 16L. Time, 3.27. Trainer, T Butt.
1w+ pacers, 2600m: Stunin Cullen 40 A Butt 1; Choise Achiever 20 2; Hostile Grins 20 3. Six started. 5L; 2 1/4L. Time, 3.17.4. Trainer, T Butt.
