We Walk By Faith has gone to another level

Hayden Cullen says he can’t worry about the line-up of harness racing stars heading to this season’s IRT New Zealand Trotting Cup.

All he can do it get We Walk By Faith and Don’t Stop Dreaming there in the best possible shape. So far, so good.

Cullen and his wife Amanda train the pair and it was We Walk By Faith who overcame an early break to win the Commodore Hotel Handicap, the open class pace at Addington on Friday night.

The four-year-old was heavily backed but punters would have been feeling sick as he galloped away and settled near last, losing any advantage of his front line draw.

Things panned out better for driver Blair Orange after though as he was able to track Republican Party into the race and get the one-one a lap from home.

But considering how much ground he lost and the quality of horses in front of him, it was still a huge performance for We Walk By Faith to run them down, with Renegade going to a a new level with a brave second up the passing lane.

WE WALK BY FAITH REPLAY

Alta Meteor had his chance in third but was still good while Don’t Stop Dreaming was fourth and Republican Party lost no fans in fifth after having the hardest run.

But the honours were with the winner, who Cullen says has gone to a new level this campaign.

“I think that hard racing last autumn and then a good spell has helped make him,” says Cullen.

“He feels stronger and he is a horse who thrives on racing so we will definitely go to the Canterbury Classic next and then probably Ashburton.”

The Cullens were also thrilled with Don’t Stop Dreaming as he continues to improve so both horses will be factors in a New Zealand Cup in which so much of the early chat is around Swayzee and Leap To Fame.

“We realise it is going to be hard but we also can’t worry or even think about that,” says Hayden.

“We have two chances and our job is to get them right. We can’t control who is going to turn up and whether they will even come.

“And even if the best of the best are here, if they go to war a long way from home and a horse like We Walk By Faith is back on the markers getting an easy run, who knows how close he could get to them?”

While the open class pace was a beauty and another great step to what lies ahead almost as impressive at the other end of the scale was the first running of the Sundon Trot, which was brilliantly won by juvenile trotter Duchess Maria.

The Nathan Williamson-trained filly remained unbeaten with a stunning burst which confirmed she is far more than just an early season flyer and she has the potential to become a real punter’s sweetheart over the next couple of years.

The new crop of big boy pacers had a nice warm up to their spring in the Wai Eyre Farm Lazarus Stakes, appropriately won by Mark Purdon behind Rubira.

He used his gate speed to lead then trail Got The Chocolates and wore him down, with Bettors Anvil a great third and Marketplace fading late to fourth after sitting parked.

Marketplace was aways going to be vulnerable fresh up, especially when the other three favourites were on the markers, but at least he was put in the race so there could be no moaning this time.

Marketplace’s stablemate Lakelsa made the most of a perfect Robbie Close drive to win the Woodlands Stud Spring Sprint Mobile but Ruby Roe was excellent in second and Father Time used his front line draw to advantage to beat backmarker Mighty Logan in the main trot on a great night of racing.

For complete race results, click here.

by Michael Guerin, for Harness Racing New Zealand