Racing: Star pacer continues top season

The real hero of Stunin Cullen's A$425,000 Hunter Cup victory wasn't on the racetrack.

In fact, he has never driven or trained a horse.

Without Victorian veterinary surgeon Dr Alastair MacLean, Stunin Cullen would be another wasted equine talent, a "whatever happened to him" story.

Instead, on Saturday night, he gave driver Anthony Butt a record fifth success in Australia's greatest handicap pace.

Stunin Cullen made the most of a three-wide cart into the race to pounce on fellow Kiwi Smiling Shard, with favourite I'm Themightyquinn a luckless third after pacing his last 1600m in 1:54.6.

That continued a magic season for Stunin Cullen, who a poor New Zealand Cup week aside, has been the most dominant pacer in New Zealand.

Which is a far cry from last term when he was beaten in poor fields in Australia and missed most of the season.

That was caused by a soft palate problem which was diagnosed and eventually operated on by MacLean.

That opened Stunin Cullen's airways and gave him another chance to feed the huge motor that powers his whirling legs.

MacLean is no stranger to fixing great horses, having also saved the career of galloping great Better Loosen Up and Victorian pacing heroes Popular Alm and Sokyola.

"He was fantastic and spent so much time diagnosing the problem and then helping him [Stunin Cullen]," said trainer Tim Butt.

MacLean was track side to Melton to watch the race and admitted to getting a thrill out of the win.

"To see one of your patients come back and win a race this big is very satisfying," said MacLean.

"It wasn't an easy problem to solve but it is worth the time for a horse as good as him.

"I was probably cheering as loud as anybody."

Stunin Cullen will get his next chance to show off his talents at the Auckland Cup Carnival, which is shaping as one of the strongest ever.

He is likely to be joined in the Cup by Australian pacers Washakie, Smoken Up and I'm Themightyquinn as well as Monkey King, Auckland Reactor and maybe even superstar mare De Lovely.

The latter claimed her first-open class scalps when she outsprinted Highview Tommy and Monkey King with a 26.3 last 400m at Addington on Saturday afternoon.

That prompted trainer Ian Small to leave her in the entries for the Interdominions at Addington next month when the second withdrawals are made today but the Auckland Cup is a more likely action.

"We will leave her in the Inters just in case but Auckland is more likely because it is only a one-off and not as hard as a series," said Small.

One star who won't be coming to Auckland until a bit later is Smiling Shard, who will bypass the Cup to concentrate on the Interdominions.

His stablemate Bettor's Srike, a former Victoria Cup winner, is likely to head to the Auckland Cup instead.

Smiling Shard will come to Auckland for the Taylor Mile and Messenger in April and May.

I'm Themightyquinn is the $4.80 Interdominion favourite, with fellow Australians Mr Feelgood and Blacks A Fake on the next line of betting.

Monkey King, who was badly in need of a run on Saturday is a $6.50 chance, with Stunin Cullen coming into $7 with Australian bookmakers.

Auckland Reactor, who is rated at $8.50 with some Australian bookmakers, returns to racing against Monkey King in a mile at Ashburton on Saturday.