Racing: Stunin descent for star Cullen

Stunin Cullen (5) needs to build confidence after failing in Cup week. Photo / Dean Purcell

What a difference a week makes.

Just last week Stunin Cullen was as short as $2.20 New Zealand Cup favourite and had the pacing world at his hooves.

Now he is being set for the Omakau Cup.

Not the glamour of the Victoria Cup, or trying to sneak a Miracle Mile invite. The Omakau Cup in Central Otago, late December where there won't be a collar and tie in sight.

That is what trainer Tim Butt feels is best for the expensive Cup week failure, who couldn't run a place in the New Zealand Cup or Free-For-All.

"We have to be honest and say we are disappointed with how the week went because we went there hoping to win and didn't get a cheque in either race," admits Butt.

"I don't think he went bad, things just didn't go his way but the best thing to do now is not to panic."

Butt will ignore the temptation to chase big money in the Franklin Cup at Alexandra Park next week in favour of rebuilding Stunin Cullen's confidence.

"He could have gone to Auckland but I don't think the 3200m of the Franklin Cup would really suit him and after that the races will be very hard, class wise.

"So he will stay home here and aim for races like the Ashburton and Omakau Cups. "At this stage small fish may be sweet."

Butt says the plan is to have Stunin Cullen at his best for the Interdominions, which start at Addington on March 25 and that could even mean missing the Auckland Cup two weeks earlier, even though Stunin Cullen has a superb record at Alexandra Park.

"It might be a little too close to the Inters for him and I want him to have an easier season than some of those horses as he is still quite young."

Butt's other open classer, Raglan, is also set for an easy summer after struggling with a niggling virus, meaning he will send just two horses north to the Christmas carnival at Alexandra Park.

"The Muskeg Express will go up for the 3-year-old races while Ray will go up for the trot, but he will probably be trained from Michelle Wallis' stable on the beach because he has been sore.

"Apart from that Choise Achiever will stay home to get some standing start practice and the rest aren't good enough to win up there because it will be bloody competitive racing."