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The Southern Bred Southern Reared brand was to the fore at Addington tonight with the region delivering seven wins on the Premier night. Although she’s small in stature I’m The Boss (Bettor’s Delight) showed plenty of the traits of her sire, including toughness and a will to win. In tonight’s $150,000 NZB Standardbred Harness Million […]
Team Cullen’s dream week didn’t extend all the way to the barrier draws for Friday’s mammoth harness racing meeting at Addington. And while trainers Hayden and Amanda Cullen still find themselves with the three favourites in the rich NZB Standardbred Harness Million races, their biggest name has been handed the most difficult draw. Team Cullen […]
Fresh up and a sitting duck to be run down, Secret Wish (Bettor’s Wish) trained by Hayden and Amanda Cullen showed all her qualities to win todays $30,000 Heat Four of the Nevele R Fillies Series at Oamaru. Driver Blair Orange took the three year old straight to the top from barrier one with second […]
Ashley Frank (Bettor’s Delight) was an impressive winner of the second harness racing heat of the Rising Stars last Friday night at Addington and heads into tomorrow’s $30,000 final as one of the favourites. Trained by Hayden and Amanda Cullen, the promising gelding is raced by Peter Van Beek and his wife Jude. Jude is […]
As spring racing is shaping up and the best of New Zealand’s harness racing stock is starting to appear at the trials, it’s inevitable that interest and excitement begins to build. In this edition of Stable talk, Hayden Cullen runs an eye over some of the stable’s stars as they prepare to return to the […]
Rolleston trainers Hayden and Amanda Cullen have strong chances across the Addington card tonight. Hear Hayden’s comments on each of their four runners. Race Two: Rosa Shard (Captain Crunch-best bet) – Driver Olivia Thornley (FR2) Race Six: Trump Card (Rock N Roll Heaven) – Driver Blair Orange (FR9) Race Eight: Princess Renee (Downbytheseaside) – Driver […]
Despite uncertain times, Paul Howlett, Canterbury blacksmith, breeder and owner, remains positive about harness racing’s future. “I leave it to the people that get paid well. I just worry about putting shoes on horses and getting young people into the game. I just love going to the races with my mates and having a few […]
The country’s leading reinsman Blair Orange couldn’t have asked for a better birthday present than winning tonight’s $200,000 Magness Benrow Sires’ Stakes Three Year Old Fillies harness racing final, driving Secret Wish (Bettor’s Wish) for trainer Hayden and Amanda Cullen. “What a magnificent day to get a couple of Group Ones on my birthday. It’s the icing […]
Trainers Hayden and Amanda Cullen and driver Blair Orange are well respected and a lethal combination. And that’s how it played out in todays $60,000 Group Two Alabar Southern Supremacy Stakes at Ascot Park. Although one of his main rivals Marble Arch had drawn the one marble, Orange decided the front was the best place […]
Rolleston trainers Hayden and Amanda Cullen transport two horses south for Diamonds Day at Ascot Park on Sunday. Both Chiggsy (Bettor’s Delight) and Mystery Creek (Bettor’s Delight) are winning chances. Chiggsy races in the $100,000 G1 Diamond Creek Farm Two Year Old Classic. “I’m really pleased with him. I’ve been home for the last ten […]
This time last year We Walk By Faith (Bettor’s Delight) took out the Dawson Harford Taylor Mile at long odds. He’s likely to be at long odds again in this year’s edition as he faces the likes of Sooner The Bettor, The Lazarus Effect, Swayzee, Akuta and Got The Chocolates. “He’s working good enough to […]
She’s far from the finished product, but I’m The Boss (Bettor’s Delight) looks to have talent in spades in the way she won the $40,000 G3 Donaghy’s Pro Equine Leonard Memorial at Addington today. Blair Orange took the two year old filly straight to the top but had to fight off stablemate Wat Fun early. […]
A brave and talented Chiggsy (Bettor’s Delight) had to dig deep to win the $60,000 Group Three Macca Lodge Kindergarten Stakes at Wyndham today. Driver Blair Orange showed his intent to lead and the early competition was intense, with Fanfare and On Ya Bike heading in the same direction. Chiggsy reached the front at the […]
In what is a busy day for harness racing in New Zealand, with three meetings (Wyndham, Rangiora and Manawatu), it’s Rangiora Classic day at Rangiora. With the race to be run on the grass surface for just the second time in the history of the race, a field of just six runners will go to […]
Hayden and Amanda Cullen look to have another nice three year old in their Rolleston barn, judging by the way Secret Wish (Better’s Wish) won at Oamaru today. The Cullens had a dominant group of three year old fillies last season with Arafura, General Jen and Winelight. In today’s Macca Lodge/Nevele R Stud Southern Oaks […]
Vessem (Vincent) enjoyed the torrid pace in today’s $40,000 G3 Macca Lodge Northern Southland Cup and proved too good for what was touted as the best field in some years. “He likes the speed on because he’s a pretty good stayer,” driver Olivia Thornley said. There was plenty of action up front early, with Always […]
It seems remarkable that until last night, General Jen (Captaintreacherous) had not won a feature race. The Hayden and Amanda Cullen trained four year old mare has had to take a back seat to her stablemates Arafura and Winelight – each of whom have won features in two seasons of racing. That all changed when […]
Confederate (Bettor’s Delight) has been sold and will race in America. He was purchased as a yearling for $240,000 at the NZB Standardbred Sales and was raced for a group of owners that included Katrina Purdon, Dean Shannon and his breeders John and Katrina Price. Trained by Barry Purdon and Scott Phelan, over two seasons […]
With 400 metres to run, most were giving Arafura (Sweet Lou) no chance of winning the $225,000 Group One Tennant Engineering New Zealand Pacing Oaks, but under a masterful drive from the ‘Oaks King’ Mark Purdon, she stormed home to nab gallant pacemaker Captains Mistress. ARAFURA REPLAY “It’s just massive. It was a very hard […]
Hayden and Amanda Cullen have some quality stock heading to Addington tomorrow for New Zealand’s biggest day in harness racing. The Rolleston based couple have ten starters, with Arafura (Sweet Lou) at $2.45 their shortest priced runner. Their day starts mid card in the $60,000 Group Two TAB Junior Free-For All when Hadron Collider (Sweet […]
Got The Chocolates (Art Major) once again turned the tables on arch rival Marketplace in today’s $30,000 Ashburton Three Year Old Showcase. Driver John Dunn didn’t have the lightning gate speed of Marketplace or Rubira but he mustered enough speed to get handy, albeit in the parked position. At the 600 metres Marketplace and Got […]
Rolleston trainers Amanda and Hayden Cullen will be looking to continue a successful harness racing weekend after We Walk By Faith’s victory at Addington on Friday night as they head to Phar Lap raceway in Timaru with four runners. “Both of the boys cleaned their dinner up last night – We Walk By Faith and […]
Sunday’s Oamaru harness racing card is packed full of features and Rolleston trainers Hayden and Amanda Cullen have four of their topliners resuming across two of the day’s features. In Heat Four of the $30,000 Nevele R Fillies Series, General Jen, Arafura and Winelight all return to the racetrack. General Jen (Captaintreacherous) has had two […]
It looks like Rolleston trainers Hayden and Amanda Cullen have unleashed a smart two year old judging by the way Zeus Lightning (Bettor’s Delight) won at Addington last night. Driver Olivia Thornley chose to bide her time at the back with the gelding and the strong pace suited Zeus Lightning. Turning in, Thornley let him […]
