Christian Cullen enjoying retirement at age 27

A look back at the super star harness racing horse and stallion Christian Cullen while in retirement at “The Hotel” described as the best equine retirement home in New Zealand, Dancingonmoonlight Farm in Christchurch. 

Christian Cullen was foaled in November 1994 and was bred by Paul Bielby and purchased by Ian Dobson. 

Christian Cullen stormed onto the racing scene as a two-year-old winning four of his five starts including a spectacular race over 2600 meters against all ages from a stand winning by six and a half lengths in a field of thirteen starters. 

Christian Cullen won $1,249,150, winning 22 of his 31 starts with a best time of 1:54.1 which he recorded at Cambridge in 1999. He broke five race records, one as a two-year-old, two each as a three-year-old and a four-year-old. Of his 31 starts, 14 were Group races and he won 12 of those. 

Probably one of his greatest race day performances was the 1998 Miracle Mile at Harold Park on the 27^th of November when he demolished a sensational field and that race there made him into a cult like harness racing superstar. Christian Cullen spent four of his 27 years racing. He has spent 18 years at stud retiring in 2017. 

The 1998 Miracle Mile at Harold Park on the 27^th of November

1998 Harold Park Miracle Mile _ Christian Cullen ( NZ )

Christian Cullen wins 1998 New Zealand Cup

Christian Cullen has amazing siring statistics around the world. 

New Zealand 

In New Zealand he has had 1,112 starters that has produced 949 winners. That is 85% winners to starters. Those starters have won over NZ$36 million, roughly $32,000 per starter. This excludes his NZ bred progeny earnings who were exported and raced in America.

Of those 1,112 starters, 613 were colts/gelding and 499 were fillies/mare’s. The mix for his winners were 570 colts/geldings and 385 fillies/mares. So he sired both fillies and colts, no heavy leaning to one or the other. 

Christian Cullen has become a sensation as a broodmare sire. In New Zealand he is already the broodmare sire of $30 million in progeny earnings and most notably the mighty Lazarus with earnings of over $4 million and the super mare Amazing Dream with over a million in earnings to date.

 Australia 

In Australia, Christian Cullen bred 352 foals that have earned to date over $12 million. His 245 starters have averaged just over $50,000 per foal. His broodmare sire statistics are incredible with 1,026 of his daughter’s progeny having earned over $22 million to date and still counting. 

North America (Canada and the USA combined) 

In North America, Christian Cullen’s first claim to fame was that he became the only New Zealand bred stallion to shuttle to North America. In 2009 he shuttled for only the one season where he bred just 32 foals. His record in North America with his progeny was outstanding. Including the few horses he bred there a steady flow of New Zealand and Australian progeny found there way to the Northern Hemisphere. His record is 205 eligible to race with progeny earnings of $29,387,609 to date. That is a super average of $260,067 per starter. He has produced two millionaires, five $750,000 winners and 11 $500,000 winners to date. 84 of his progeny have earnings of over $100,000. 12 of his progeny have paced faster than 1:50.

Summary 

Christian Cullen was a star on the racetrack, as a stallion he rewrote the record books and was our most successful colonial sire and the only New Zealand bred stallion to be shuttled to North America. He was the first Colonial sire to command a service fee of over $10,000. His service fee reached the lofty heights of $25,000 at one time. He deserves to be recognised as one of New Zealand’s most elite racehorse and certainly one of New Zealand’s greatest ever stallions.

Harnesslink Media