Horse Racing: Cup favourites in heated debate

By Michael Guerin

They have been waiting for tonight.

One the champion with a slight dent in his mountainous ego. The other the King of the Derbys who craves the credit he deserves.

Christian Cullen and Holmes D G.

The big southern hero has swept all before him and created a tide of harness racing hysteria. But there is one thing bugging him as he lays his multi-million dollar head down at night.

Twice last season Holmes D G got his measure. Once in the Great Northern Derby and again in the Three-Year-Old of the Year voting.

And then there were those annoying northerners crowing after Holmes D G sat parked outside him and stayed within a half-length during the Free-For-All at Addington.

He wants to end this rubbish tonight.

As for Holmes D G, he is frustrated. I mean, what has a horse got to do.

You win four Derbys all over Australasia, go for a bit of a holiday and when you come back every horse and his man is talking about Christian Cullen.

So we cut out the middle men and went straight to the horse's mouths.

With the help of the Man Who Talks To Horses (you know, from the books), Monty Roberts, flown in at great expense we might add, we bring you this exclusive interview with tonight's Auckland Cup favourites Christian Cullen and Holmes D G.

How do you feel with the big race just hours away?

CHRISTIAN CULLEN: Great. I always feel great. Went for a blast around Pukekohe on Sunday and think I probably ran some sort of record. Again. Had a nice little break after that Aussie trip and I couldn't be any better.

HOLMES D G: Yeah, I feel pretty good thanks. I was carrying a little bit of fat before the Summer Cup but it was a pretty hard race and I feel heaps better now.
The last time I was this fit was for the Derby down at Addington last season.

Where does Alexandra Park rank among your favourite tracks?

CC: Well, it ain't exactly Addington, or Ashburton, which is heaven. But it is heaps better than those dog tracks I had to put up with in Australia. I had a good couple of looks around here last season and I liked the place. When you pace like me tracks don't really matter.

HDG: It's home. I like it because most of the boys - sorry, and girls - tend to run along a bit here so it is good for us stayers. I can sometimes get my head around a bit when I am tired on a left-handed track but here I am fine.

How do you rate your trainer/driver?

CC: Hey, don't hassle my crew. The boss has helped me win $1 million even after I had a few growing pains last season and as for Danny, he is a nice kid. He lets me show off and he doesn't hit me hard.

HDG: Big Bar (that is what his mates call him) is the best in the business. I know he has won this race heaps of times because he has a whole lot of Gold Cups at home. And he is a better driver than you guys realise ...... although I hope he didn't go crazy at the Christmas dinner table.

Do you think the 3200m will he a help or a hindrance?

CC: Hello, were you at Addington on Cup day. Baby, I smashed them and we were doing it early. Forget that Miracle Mile stuff, this is what us standardbreds live for.

HDG: I have been waiting for 3200m all my life. Once I start running I don't want to stop, which you might have noticed during those record-breaking Derbys last season. I don't feel pain, hey, I'm originally from Southland.

OK, now be honest. Which one of you is faster?

CC: Me. I hold track records everywhere except Mars. And we are going there next year.

HDG: I ran that 53.8 second last 800m at the Rangiora trials last month and he hasn't run any faster than that. And then I sat outside him in the Free-For-All and then, oh, what's the use. OK, he's faster.

Who is tougher?

CC: I'll admit the little fella has got some ticker but I was pretty tired before the Trueur and still hung in there. I'm tough baby. Ask Iraklis.

HDG: Get real. Last season I beat this dude in the Great Northern Derby with a dirty great hole in my leg from that paddock injury. I don't care how fast he is, he won't out-tough me.

Who is better looking?

CC: Are you blind?

HDG: Next question.

What is your greatest weakness?

CC: I don't understand the question.

HDG: I haven't quite got the hang of those standing starts yet but I would rather not talk about that right now. John (part-owner John Hart) has told me only to concentrate on the positives before the big ones. I am now visualising a perfect start.

What about a world 3200m record tonight?

CC: If anybody runs a world record it will be me. I am the one starting from 10m behind, which really sucks by the way, and I have been hanging out for a chance to chill out during a race than have one run at them. Yeah, the record is on.

HDG: I hope so. I hope those hard old diggers up the front go crazy because I'm ready.

How do you see the race going?

CC: This 10m handicap is a hassle but that's all. I concentrate better following other horses out because it makes me more determined to reach the lead. If they go too hard Danny and I will just sit and wait before flashing over the top.

Wouldn't those TV guys love that.

But if the pace slackens for one second then we will be off, just like Addington all over again.

HDG: Well, I'm going to angle across and try and follow through that mare of John Hay's (There's A Franco) and just hang loose until the mile. But if that big fella tries to make a move on me I am going to have him on. Let's see him sit parked outside me and win.

What is your greatest fear tonight?

CC: Some idiot up front getting all psyched out and getting in my way at the start. Apart from that I wouldn't want Sharp And Telford to get to the front and start doing his bulldozer impersonation. He is a tough old codger.

HDG: My greatest fear is traffic early on. Oh, and Sharp And Telford stepping on my toe. Have you seen the size of his feet? He is like Todd Blackadder with four legs.

Now the question on everybody's lips. Will you win tonight?

CC: Yep. No doubts. Certainty. Mortgage you house, sell your car and get on. I am the real deal. Float like a butterfly, sting like a .....

HDG: I wish he would shut up. I have been hearing this stuff all season. Everywhere I go, Cullen this, Cullen that. All the mares talking about him. And as for that ridiculous song. This is my track and this is my race. He is going down.

CC: Oh yeah. We'll see about that you little dwarf.

HDG: OK, I'm out of here. See you at the track, glamour boy.