Racing: Stunin Cullen will miss NZ Cup after suffering knee fracture

Stunin Cullen will have a three-month spell. Photo / Dean Purcell

The timing couldn't be worse for Stunin Cullen.

The $1.4 million earner will miss the first half of the new season after sustaining a hairline fracture in a knee.

That means he will miss his best chance of winning the New Zealand Trotting Cup.

With Australian big guns Smoken Up and Themightyquinn almost certain to skip the New Zealand Cup and two-time defending champion Monkey King in career-worst form ending last season, November's New Zealand Cup could be one of the most open in years.

"It really is a shame because the Cup isn't shaping up as being that strong this season," said Stunin Cullen's driver Anthony Butt.

"It will still be a good Cup but if the Aussies don't come the locals aren't as strong as they have been in some of the recent Cups.

"So it really did look a big chance for him."

Stunin Cullen faded after over-racing as favourite in last year's New Zealand Cup but went on to win the Hunter Cup in Victoria, suggesting he would have been hard to beat at Addington on the second Tuesday in November.

"We are lucky that as knee injuries go it is not a really bad one and he should be fine long-term," said Butt.

"But he will have to be out of work for the next three months so our only really big target, realistically, this season is the Auckland Cup."

Even losing their stable star won't be enough to stop Butt and his trainer brother Tim having a presence on the Grand Circuit this season though, as they will soon take delivery of their latest North American purchase, Lisagain.

The US$600,000 earner and 1:49.4 pacer will enter quarantine in Auckland soon before heading to their Canterbury stables.

He is a half-brother to champion pacer Lis Mara, who now stands at stud in New Zealand, and will race here before embarking on his own stud career. That was the same path Mr Feelgood was on when he won the Interdominions and Hunter Cup for the Butts in 2009.

"He is a quality horse who has raced right up with the best in North America," said Butt.

"So we put a syndicate together to buy him and we are thrilled to get him."

Lisagain's main target is the Miracle Mile in November yet Butt says with the New Zealand Cup falling away he could even have a crack at the great race.

"It wasn't really on his programme but we will see how he is when he comes out of quarantine.

"At this stage, he will be nominated for the Cup but the Miracle Mile is the main goal."

ADDINGTON MEETING CALLED OFF

* The winter whiteout will mean a rare Friday night without harness racing in New Zealand.

* Tomorrow's Addington meeting has been abandoned after local trainers were reluctant to race horses who had missed this work because of the snowstorms.

* The meeting attracted just 59 nominations but the final number of starters could have fallen as low as 50 as trainers battled to prepare their horses.

* Pick6 punters are going to have to multi-task with $100,000 up for grabs at the Wanganui Dogs tomorrow night. Look for a preview in your On Form guide tomorrow.