Racing: Stunin Cullen ready for battle

New Zealand punters have been robbed of the chance to see the start of one of the great 4-year-old rivalries in years.

Because the clash of Kiwi speed machine Stunin Cullen with Aussie superstars Bonavista Bay and Captain Joy is too late tonight for Trackside coverage and therefore the TAB will not be accepting betting on the event.

The trio clash in a A$50,000 four-year-old race at Gloucester Park tonight as a prelude to the A$175,000 Golden Nugget at the same venue next week.

With the time difference the race will be run at 1.50am New Zealand time tomorrow.

Trackside will still be screening live racing at that stage, but the Perth race will not be covered as Australian racing will have been replaced by Singapore commitments.

While the race would have attracted only insomniacs, shift workers and very hardened pub TAB viewers, it could be the start of a special rivalry.

Stunin Cullen was our fastest 3-year-old last season and has the raw speed to develop into a top open-class star.

Captain Joy was his Australian equivalent, winning a string of Derbys before a hard season and Bonavista Bay caught up on him at the Breeders Crown in August.

Bonavista Bay is rated by many as the next great Australian pacer and his development over the summer is especially interesting, as he is being set for the Auckland Cup, Taylor Mile-Messenger double and then the Harness Jewels.

Trainer Tim Butt knows Stunin Cullen faces a tough Australian debut after drawing wide on the front line but says the rare Perth trip makes sense.

"He has over A$300,000 worth of races in the next month before he contests three huge races in three weeks after that," said Butt.

"It is a great way to bridge the gap between 3-year-old racing and open-class racing for us and his long-term aim is the Hunter Cup before coming back to Auckland for the Taylor Mile, Messenger and the Jewels."

Butt has sent both his stable stars to Australia, with Interdominion winner Mr Feelgood looking to regain his form at Cranbourne next week.

"I honestly don't know what is wrong with him but he just lacks that killer instinct at the moment," said Butt. "But we are committed to racing him through until the Interdominions and we are hoping a return to Australia will turn his form around."

Like most in the industry, Butt is less focused than usual on tonight's Addington meeting, which used to be one of the great nights of racing but has lost its importance with the absence of the Dominion Handicap and the Free-For-All Pace.

Butt does, however, think he can win race five, with the talented but enigmatic Hoon Hay.

"It is a nice field but he is at his best in front and he could end up there this week.

"So he is our best chance of a win and I also like Huntsman at Timaru on Sunday."

Butt is just one of several high-profile Canterbury trainers aiming horses at the Alexandra Park meetings next month.

"I will only have three there because we are a bit lighter on numbers at the moment but the stakes are huge, so I think all the top trainers from down home will be there."