KEY POINTS:
The training skills of Tim Butt and Phil Anderson were underlined to punters following the $220,000 2-Year-Old feature at Addington Raceway yesterday.
Butt and Anderson timed their preparation of exciting Christian Cullen 2-year-old Stunin Cullen to perfection producing the colt in superb order for the 1950m sprint.
Before
the race Stunin Cullen had only two trials and one race day appearance. He raced like a veteran professional and was sent straight to the front by stable driver Anthony Butt for the closing 1200m away from traffic problems and possible interference.
Stunin Cullen sealed the victory with effortless closing 800m and 400m lead sectional splits of 56.9 and 28.3 seconds scoring by 1 1/2 lengths over Tintin In America with a further 1 3/4 lengths back to Highview Tommy.
The favourite Sir Clive broke in tight racing quarters during the opening 400m and finished at the rear.
The Butt-Anderson stable has had a prolific strike rate with older stock, and Stunin Cullen's performance shows it can develop leading age group talent.
MARK JONES drove an extremely patient race with Badlands Jewel and was rewarded with an impressive home stretch sprint to gun down pace-setter Fight Fire With Fire and win the $150,000 Nevele R Fillies Series Final.
Jones stayed out of the early speed war and mid race interference to pull his charge to the middle of the track in the home stretch.
Badlands Jewel lengthened stride powerfully down the outer to grab the victory by a nose with a further 1 3/4 lengths back to Kiwi Ingenuity.
A consistent performer for Invercargill trainer Wayne Adams, Badlands Jewel has five wins and two minor placings from eight starts.
The favourite, Lizzie Maguire, was trapped three wide from the start working forward to sit outside the leader then secure the 1-1 sit. Lizzie Maguire challenged the leaders on the turn and battled into sixth position. She is too good to dismiss and will strip fitter for the New Zealand Oaks next week.
NEAREA FRANCO confirmed her emergence as the up-and-coming pacing mare in New Zealand when recording a ruthless victory yesterday.
The 4-year-old daughter of Badlands Hanover powered over the 1950m in a blistering 2.21.9 (mile rate 1.57) with closing 800m and 400m sectionals of 56.8 and 26.8 seconds.
Highly regarded 3-year-olds Georgetown and Fiery Falcon had to contend with the minor placings.
Nearea Franco scored by 3 3/4 lengths over Georgetown, who had the run of the race. Great Northern Derby winner Fiery Falcon was a further half-head away in third position.
A mouth-watering clash looms at Cambridge Raceway on May 31 when Nearea Franco will meet One Dream in the $200,000 Harness Diamond.
Nearea Franco will arrive at Cambridge in commanding form while One Dream is fresh up after injury.
GRAHAM PEARSON has had some memorable moments in harness racing and he was back in the winners circle yesterday.
Pearson, who owns tough 3-year-old filly Neat Treat, piloted her to an upset 48-1 victory in the $15,000 Nevele R Fillies Series Consolation.
Neat Treat had to be good to win the 1950 event as she sat outside the leader for the last 1000m and kicked clear in the home straight to win by a half-head over Victoria Rulz. A further quarter length back was Prom Queen.
AWESOME ARMBRO enjoyed the drop in class to win the $25,000 Christchurch Casino Free-For-All.
Regular driver David Butcher punched the favourite straight to the front and took a brief mid-race sit behind Waipawa Lad.
The Cambridge horseman was not going to risk becoming trapped against the pylons and elected to retake the lead clinching the victory with blistering closing 800m and 400m sectionals of 55.8 and 26.7 seconds.
Awesome Armbro scored by three-quarters of a length over Waipawa Lad with 1 1/2 lengths back to Roman Gladiator in third.
CASTLETONIAN TROTTED throughout while many of his age group rivals failed when taking out the $60,000 NRM (NZ) Sires Stakes 2-Year-Old Trotters Championship.
The favourite, Jumanji Franco, was leading but broke and lost all chance with 800m remaining.
Colin De Filippi took Castletonian straight to the front and appeared to put a winning break on the field when kicking clear on the home turn.
However, the Mark Purdon trained and driven Pocaro was stalking Castletonian and effortlessly reeled him in.
Just when victory seemed inevitable Pocaro threw victory away by breaking and lost all chance.
Castletonian scored by three lengths over Gimli with a further 1 1/4 lengths back to Outmuscle.
The son of Continentalman is trained in Mosgiel by Alan Mark and picked an appropriate occasion to record victory netting an impressive winning stake of $30,360.