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COURAGE UNDER FIRE

One of New Zealand's most popular ever pacers Courage Under Fire has passed away with a record that may never be matched. The tiny pacing hero turned stallion died in Australia yesterday where he was standing at Yirribee Stud in New South Wales. He would have turned 22 on Tuesday.

While he was a very commercial stallion who sired recently-retired Inter Dominion champion Smolda, it was as the Mighty Mouse of pacing that Courage Under Fire will be best remembered. He won his first 24 starts, being unbeaten at two and three, that classic season including a record six Derby victories.

It is doubtful any galloper would ever have contested six Derbys and very few harness horses probably have either, let alone winning them all. So this rarest of places in racing history would seem to be Courage Under Fire's alone forever.

The Derbys were part of a 41-win career from 56 starts that saw him amass $1,551,941 in stakes after starting his career in New Zealand with Bruce Negus and then being transferred to champion NSW trainer Brian Hancock after a sensational failure in the 2000Inter Dominion in Melbourne. Courage Under Fire suffered his first defeat in a heat of that series, prompting Moonee Valley commentator Dan Milecki to yell "the world must be ending' as Kyema Kid surged past Courage Under Fire.

While the world survived, Courage Under Fire's career plateaued by his earlier standards and he was never as dominant as an older horse, winning a series of good races but never one of the great ones. He was narrowly beaten in both the Miracle Mile and Victoria Cup and fourth in an Inter Dominion Final but picked up Grand Circuit races like the South Australia Cup, Queensland Pacing Champs and Australian Pacing Champs.

He came back to the pack because while he was a pacing machine at three he never got much stronger or faster, forever looking a fast teenager racing grown men. But as a three-year-old he captured the racing - and some non-racing - public's imagination in a golden era that also saw Christian Cullen and Lyell Creek draw huge fan bases. The other two were better older horses, albeit all too briefly in Christian Cullen's case , but Courage Under Fire's size endeared him to race fans, his little legs whirling like a cartoon character when he was at full speed.

Off the track he was a little softy. "He loved people and was the lovliest little horse to have around," says original trainer Negus. "He had so many fans and when little kids came up to him to pat him, which happened all the time, he would lower his head down so they could get to him. Once, when Brian Hancock was training him, they couldn't find Brian's six-year-old granddaughter and they were all panicking. They couldn't believe it when they found her in Courage's paddock and she was patting him as he nuzzled her. This was when he was a seven-year-old stallion, he was just such a gentleman"

So did training a racing icon change Negus's career or even life? "If definitely helped my career because we had a lot of good horses, many for his owner Greg Brodie after Courage left the stables. But it also changed my life. I met so many people and was once asked to speak at a racing awards dinner because I was the guy who trained Courage Under Fire. I met my wife Colleen at that function, so I owe Courage more than he would ever have known."

****

Standing at only a tick over 14 hands, the little stallion certainly had a huge heart and left a lasting impact on the Australasian breeding industry where few colonial stallions have been able too.

Upon retirement he was the sire of 434 NZ Bred winners, he was also the sire of-

*7 NZ Group One winners: Secret Potion, Lancôme, Smolda & Pembrook Benny.
*16 NZ Group Two Winners
*14 Group Three Winners
*6 NZ Listed Winners

His legacy will now be in those of his daughters who are already breeding on his guts and determination, with the outstanding mare Arms of an Angel being out of a daughter of Courage.

Credit: Michael Guerin writing in Breeding Matters July 2017

Natalie Rasmussen knows better than to try and dance with the devil, so you won’t see Heaven Rock’s straying too far from the nest for the next few months.

The massive pacer with the big motor and even bigger bag of tricks was simply stunning when winning last night's (Saturday) Group One $100,000 Easter Cup at Addington after blowing the stand start and while he showed his best work for about 3100 metres of the 3200 metres, Rasmussen couldn’t help but ponder what could be if he was a little more tractable.

“He’s very, very good, there’s no doubting that,” she said.

“But he’s also a big orangutan.”

While there must be some temptation to go and take on the best in Australasia with such an exciting talent, Rasmussen, and her training partner, Mark Purdon are more inclined to stick to the proven and keep Heaven Rocks around the Rolleston base and make a bid at a second Jewels success.

“I don’t think at this stage, with some of his mannerism, sending him away would be the best thing for him.

“He’s getting better, but he’s still a ratbag and you certainly couldn’t leave him with someone, so we are better keeping him close by where we can manage, and handle him.”

That news will likely result in a shot at the Rangiora Classic in a couple of weeks before the Jewels preparation.

Becoming a dual, Jewels winners became a bit easier on Saturday night with Purdon officially withdrawing superstar Lazarus from the big race day.

Heaven Rocks has now won eight of his 14 starts and took his earnings past $200,000 on Saturday night for his connections; Phil and Glenys Kennard, Phil and Margaret Creighton, Gavin Douglas and Kevin Riseley.

After missing away from the stand start, he settled quickly into his work and Rasmussen took any further bad luck out of the equation and launched her way to the lead within the first 500 metres.

“He relaxed back to me really well which is a good thing because he can pull.

“He got a bit keen when the bell went at the mile marker, but again came back to me really well and was just travelling super from there on.”

They stopped the clock in a slick 3:58.7 with Captain Dolmio emerging from the ruck to run a valiant second while North Island visitor Maxim was a very good third.

Credit : Matt Markham writing in Harnesslink, April 2017


Credit: Matt Markham writing in Harnesslink, April 2017

It was an upset of gigantic proportions. But it was also history in the making. Talented trotter Amaretto Sun and harness racing teenage driver Sheree Tomlinson proved victorious in today’s (Friday) Gr.1 $300,000 Haras des Trotteurs Dominion Handicap at Addington in Christchurch.

Prepared by respected horseman Ken Ford, Amaretto Sun was friendless in the betting and saluted at odds of $91.20 while defeating The Foot Tapper and Monty Python in the 3200m stand-start classic, the biggest trotting event staged in New Zealand and first staged in 1911.

Tomlinson, 19, becomes the first female driver to win the time-honoured trotting feature and showed patience beyond her youthful years when guiding the Sundon gelding to victory.

The pre-race hype focused on Tuesday’s Trotting Free-For-All winner Great Things Happen with many expecting the giant trotter to repeat his crushing victory while the flashy Bordeaux was tipped to be his biggest challenger.

When the strands released, Amaretto Sun pounced on the early lead before releasing The Foot Tapper while Great Things Happen quickly moved forward and tackled for the lead role.

With Great Things Happen controlling the speed, there were little or no moves within the first mile of the event which had punters on good terms with themselves.

The lead time was covered in 2:06.8.

The first move in the race came via Bordeaux who moved three-wide with 1300m to run while Daryl Boko and Dark Horse joined the developing cover.

But Great Things Happen continued to cruise in the leading role and posted sectionals of 29.1 and 29.5 seconds for the first half of the final mile.

Approaching the home turn, Great Things Happen found little when challenged quickly by Bordeaux while The Foot Tapper and Amaretto Sun went to the passing lane with Monty Python and Harriet Of Mot both starting to charge deeper off the track.

At the 100m mark, it was Amaretto Sun who struck the lead while The Foot Tapper, Bordeaux and Monty Python battled hard.

Harriet Of Mot, who almost fell soon after the start, made a break in the final stages and cost itself a certain placing.

At the finish, it was Amaretto Sun who sprinted best to score by over a length from The Foot Tapper with another half-length back to Monty Python in third while Bordeaux finished a close-up fourth.

The final half was covered in splits of 29.4 and 29.7 seconds.

The gross time was 4:04.7 – the mile rate was 2:03.0.

It was well outside of the race record set twelve months earlier when Monbet trotted 4:00.7.

Race favourite Great Things Happen weakened to finish 11th.

"He felt good in the running and has so much speed. It felt amazing," Tomlinson said.

“It’s very special for the family.” She added.

Tomlinson is the granddaughter of Ford and the family has enjoyed tremendous success in recent times with outstanding trotter Marcoola.

The shock result provided Tomlinson with her maiden Group One triumph and it’s a victory she will never forget.

Amaretto Sun's sire Sundon won the Dominion in 1990.

Credit : Chris Barsby writing on Harnesslink, November 2017


Credit: Chris Barsby writing on Harnesslink, November 2017

Lazarus has won the harness racing $800,000 Christchurch Casino New Zealand Trotting Cup in emphatic style once again at Addington Raceway in Christchurch.



Lazarus, who won the cup by 10 lengths last year, won easily again, this time by 5-3/4 lengths with enough in the tank for trainer-driver Mark Purdon to give a salute to the crowd before the finish line.

"He's a champion," said Purdon, minutes after the win over Jack's Legend and Tiger Tara. Maxim was fourth.

Lazarus paid just $1.40 for the win and it was a money back $1 for the place.

Purdon, who trains with partner Natalie Rasmussen at Rolleston, controlled the race from soon after the start, though there was chaos there with Ricky May tipped from the cart of Seel The Deal and Lazarus' stablemate Dream About Me had her chances wrecked in the same collision.

Lazarus had the lead after 200m and was never seriously challenged. Purdon urged him to go 400m out and he put a gap on his rivals. It was all too easy.

Purdon's brother Barry trained the game runner-up Jack's Legend, while Tiger Tara, now trained in Australia, did extremely well after breaking with about 800m to go, recovering to finish third.

Mark Purdon said the key to the race was the start and Lazarus performed brilliantly after some practice at home since his last start.



Mark Purdon has combined with Lazarus to win the New Zealand Trotting Cup for the second year running.

Purdon said he had a look around with 400m to go, and said "let's go", pulling Lazarus' earplugs out and the horse responded.

"He's a pleasure to train. There's no fuss about him, nothing smart about him, he's just one of the boys in the barn and just a lovely horse," Purdon told Trackside.

Lazarus has now triumphed in his last eight starts and his race record stands at 31 wins from 36 starts, for prizemoney of around $2.6 million.

Lazarus' next assignment is the Interdominion series in Perth, where he will tackle his Australian nemesis, Lennytheshark. It starts later this month with the final on December 8.

Credit : Mat Kermeen, Stuff writing on Harnesslink, November 2017



Credit: Mat Kermeen, Stuff writing on Harnesslink, November 2017

Spanish Armada, HRNZ photo

Natalie Rasmussen’s reserved, but powerful, raise of the fist at the end of last night’s New Zealand Oaks at Addington was a salute to a filly who she is fast considering to be one of her favourite horses of all time.

Naturally, nothing will ever quite measure up to the legendary Black’s A Fake, but if you asked the 16-time New Zealand Group One winning driver who was next, Spanish Armada’s name would be right up there.

“I’ve just got so much time for this horse,” Rasmussen said.

“She’s everything you could ask for in a horse really, she’s one of my most favourite horses at the moment.”

With brimming confidence and a strong knowledge of what was going on around her, Rasmussen was on a one-way mission in the $150,000 Group One last night and was never going to back down from the challenge of starting off the second row and having to work her way into the race.

“I just had so much faith in her, and what she is capable of.

“Her work during the week was exceptional I thought and she really felt on top of her game so I knew we were good to go heading into the race.

“The circumstances worked out alright, but she did have to work quite a few times in the race in tricky conditions.

“But her staying ability was always going to be her best asset and it showed with the way she really kept at it the entire way to the line.”

Despite the inclement weather, Spanish Armada still managed to stop the clock in a staggering 3:09.1, obliterating the previous best mark for a three-year-old filly in a 2600 metre mobile, which was held by De Lovely from when we won the Oaks in 3:10.9 back in 2010.

It was another magical moment for Jean Feiss, who has enjoyed a stellar run over the past few seasons.

And that fun hasn’t stopped.

The Harness Jewels are the next stop on the path to greatness for Spanish Armada and based on her performances over the past two weeks, she’s going to be the one they all have to beat again over the mile at Ashburton.

Bonnie Joan was a gallant second, beaten by a superstar, after doing plenty of work.

“She’s gone great, as good as she could have really,” Dexter Dunn said of his drive.

Upmost Delight emerged from the pack to run a strong third and earn herself a Jewels berth while Mark Purdon was simply beaming at the effort of Partyon who ran on strongly from well back in the field for fourth.

Purdon, less than 45 minutes earlier, had been tasting big race success himself as a driver when he partnered Spankem to win the Sires’ Stakes Final for the two-year-olds.

The Jewels leader in the Emerald, Spankem enjoyed a nice trip just off the speed before unleashing to win effortlessly.

“He deserved that big one,” Purdon said after the race.

“And with that run he was always going to be very hard to beat I thought.
“He’s quite an exceptional horse.”

Credit: Matt Markham writing on Harnesslink, May 2017

Greg Hope made a scary confession in the wake of Enghien’s New Zealand Trotting Derby on Friday night.

Not long after his rising star had dealt to his rivals in the $80,000 feature the Woodend Beach trainer, who trains with his wife Nina, was already pondering his next step with the dour son of Love You and that’s Auckland.

A lot of trainers might feel hesitation about the prospect of heading North to race a new way around, but Hope was buoyant about the prospect.

“He’s actually better trotting the Auckland way around,” Hope added.

“So I’m looking forward to getting him up there, he’s going from strength to strength at the moment.”

A second line draw and a sweeping move around the field weren’t enough to stop Enghien.

He went to war with the pace-making Musculus and also northern raider, Heavyweight Hero from almost the 800 metre mark and although his winning margin wasn’t huge, it was authoritative.

“I think he could have won by a lot more if I had asked him too,” driver Ricky May said.

By winning, Enghien secured bragging rights over his high-class stable mate, Monbet.

For all his subsequent success, Monbet was unable to win a Group One as a three-year-old, bowing to Speeding Spur on more than one occasion.

Enghien is raced by Hope and long-time stable supporter, Richard Delleca.

They purchased him as a yearling from the yearling sales from stock offered by the late Carl Middleton.

Middleton’s wife, Heather, was on track to witness the success on Friday night and Hope said it was great for her to be there.

“It’s a wonderful breed, Carl’s breed,” Hope said.

“And Heather being here to see this horse is great, she’s actually taken a share in the yearling we purchased at the sales from Another Love which is great too.”

Credit: Matt Markham writing on Harnesslink, April 2017

Another day another harness racing record on the lightening fast Addington surface.

This time it was Ultimate Machete who won this years Woodlands NZ Free For All by blazing around the Addington track in a 1-51.9 mile rate.

In doing so Ultimate Machete reclaimed a record he also once held this time last year.

The 4yo by Bettor's Delight trimmed 0.4 of a second off the old 1950m mobile record set only a few days earlier by stable mate Chase Auckland in the NRM Sires Stakes Final.

Ultimate Machete had to be the best to win the race, after sitting parked for the whole way and then wearing down the leader Tiger Tara in the shadows of the post.

Driver Natalie Rasmussen wasn't worried about sitting parked saying after the race "I was happy to be there. He is so tough and is best rolling along so it suits him. I could see Jacks legend was just starting to battle and I was still traveling. A great effort"

Tiger Tara was game in defeat after leading for most of the way for driver Todd McCarthy. He pinged to the lead from the start and kept up a steady tempo but was beaten by a tougher horse on the day. Jacks Legend was only a nose back in third after trailing all the way.

Amazingly the last seven times a New Zealand record has been broken over the 1950m mobile distance, they have all been broken by a horse trained by the Purdon/Rasmussen All Stars Stable.

1950m New Zealand Record history.

Ultimate Machete	17/11/2017	Addington Raceway	2-15.7
Chase Auckland	14/11/2017	Addington Raceway	2-16.1
The Devils Own	12/05/2017	Addington Raceway	2-16.3
Lazarus	11/11/2016	Addington Raceway	2-16.3
Ultimate Machete	08/11/2016	Addington Raceway	2-16.5
Have Faith In Me	11/11/2014	Addington Raceway	2-17.3
Auckland Reactor	10/11/2009	Addington Raceway	2-17.8

Credit: Harnesslink Media, November 2017

COURVY KAZI - Mystery Mare

With all due respect to those dedicated Aussie breeders who produce the odd real marvel from unlikely sourses how do we explain Flashing Red? Well, let me tell you, not by pedigree.

He was the only named foal from several offspring of dam Courvy Kazi. She was by Golden Medoro, a New Zealand bred stallion, who left 114 foals, 28 of who won about $12,000. The next stallion in the pedigree was another Kiwi, Master Scott, who left only 25 foals, two of whom started(both won).

Flashing Red's Australian history is quite complicated but his sire Echelon is the story of the pedigree. Flashing Red was the only live foal left by that old style hard-hitting 1:50.6 American racehorse from Courvy Kazi. By Troublemaker from a Race Time mare, Echelon left 107 winners in Australia, a good strike rate. They won over $5m but of course Flashing Red won nearly half of that.

Flashing Red, so dominant after Tim Butt and Phil Anderson assumed command, was a marvel, winning two NZ Cups(one a surprise to us all but evidence of his thoughness) and an Auckland Cup, ending up Aged Pacer of the Year. Not many Aussies have done that.

Credit: David McCarthy writing in Harnessed June 2016

PRIDE OF LINCOLN - Mystery Mare

She is the 'mother of the trotting nation' the greatest broodmare of our industry. That is why when Wrightsons numbered the breeding families hers was made No 1. From Lincoln Yet(sire of the first Cup winner Monte Carlo) and stonewall Jackson in the 1890s to Christian Cullen in the 1990s arguably our latest true pacing superstar her descendants have produced champions in every era. Even now when her tribe numbers seem to have decreased alarmingly she can still claim Take A Moment alongside Cullen to show how the family just goes on at both gaits.

Her daughter, Thelma, whose memory is still commemorated by the Akaroa Trotting Club(thanks to the late Steve Edge) was even more successful than her own dam but because of better opportunities with trotting stallions. But Pride of Lincoln, who was owned by John Tod of Lincoln(of course), was where it all began.

Yet nothing is known about her dam, Sally. Arguments raged for years among the breeding experts about what breed of horse of horse Sally actually was. She was listed in the Stud Book as 'supposed to be a thoroughbred' and with (AUS) in brackets after her name. In the early days all trotters had thoroughbred blood close up. But later on when Pride of Lincoln and Thelma became so successful, some revision seemed to creep in and there were attempts to show Sally had trotting blood. You know how it goes.

Pride of Lincoln was a big strong mare too heavy to race and whose appearance was not always praised when she made occasional show appearances with a foal at foot. The only genuine clue about Sally is that when one of the tribe was advertised as a stallion in the 1890s it was claimed that Sally was imported by Robert Wilkin, the man who some time later landed the first Standardbreds in Canterbury.

The real answer to the Sally question was that it didn't matter. The truth probably lies with Doctor's Maid a thoroughbred foal of 1867 and the dam of Touchstone, the sire of Pride of Lincoln. Doctor's Maid left other foals who adapted well to trotting and so did the stock of Touchstone. Many years later some enthusiast got hold of Doctor's Maid's last filly foal and bred her to a pacing stallion as a very old mare. A filly resulted and her granddaughter produced the high class Auckland pacer of the 1950s in Laureldale. Blood endures.

Credit: David McCarthy writing in Harnessed June 2016

CHRISTIAN CULLEN - Champion Racehorse & Sire

As a racehorse, he was incomparable. Pure elegance and power wrapped up in an eguine machine. Simply the best.

But when Christian Cullen's career is remembered in 30,50 or even 100 years it's hard not to imagine that it will be the indelible mark he left on the breeding scene of New Zealand that will be most freely recalled.

Like some of the best to have graced studs around the country, Christian Cullen has been a trailblazer. He came at a time when harness racing needed a pin up, a commercial stallion who could mix it with the flashy lads being brought in from America - a true blue Kiwi to keep things kicking.

Lordship left his mark, Sundon left his but Cullen was a whole new ball game. A bucking of the trend if you like. He became the most sought after stallion in the country and further afield, his progeny fetching big prices at yearling sales, his service fee skyrocketing to almost unheard of prices and his demand growing by the month. Cullen was a revolutionary on the New Zealand breeding scene. For 14 years he's been on, or at least near to, the top of the pile when it comes to stallions down under.

And Ian Dobson has enjoyed every minute of it. As far as owners go, Dobson could be best described as a run-of-the-mill owner before Cullen came along. He had enjoyed moderate success. Raced the odd horse but nothing that would compare with what lay ahead. One day and one nod in the direction of a striking colt changed Dodson's life. Paul Bielby was the person who pointed Dobson in the direction of Cullen. They say that the real good horses have a presence about them. They hold themselves in a way that can be different to any other horse. And Cullen did exactly that. Dobson purchased the horse on the spot. Gave a share to his trainer at the time, Brian O'Meara and the rest, from a racing perspective, as they say, is history.

Once his racing days were over, Cullen's impact as a stallion was almost immediate. Dobson initially knew nothing about the breeding side of the business but he was constantly informed that the only logical option was to stand the horse at stud. After buying O'Meara out of his share for a six-figure sum. Initially he began breeding while still racing, with semen collected from the property of O'Meara. Standing for $6,000, a high price at the time for a first season stallion, Cullen struck a snag when nothing he was bred to in the North Island got in foal, resulting in just 46 covers in his maiden season.

From that crop however, the success was incredible. He left Born Again Christian 1:51.2($133,130), Likmesiah ($427,965), Roman Gladiator($318,022), V For($208,777), Chris Riley($306,732), Conte De Christo($246,703), Dudinka's Star($106,580) and C C Mee($101,949). Almost every one had the Cullen "look" about them. That same presence he himself held as a young horse. An enticing possibility for trainers and for breeders.

It was arguably his second crop that produced the best results though. From it came New Zealand Cup winning mare, Mainland Banner. Purchased for $9,000 by retired Ashburton farmer Ian Sowden, her ability was recognised early on as she made a big impression around Mid Canterbury at workouts and trials. The similarities between her and her sire were remarkable - something that later moved legendary race caller, Reon Murtha to describe her as "Christian Cullen in a skirt."

Dobson was obviously enraptured by the then filly as well. So much so he went and forked out a six-figure sum to purchase her unqualified through the advice of his then trainer, Robert Dunn. She would go on to win 17 of her 21 career starts, including the New Zealand Trotting Cup - earning close to $700,000 in the process and is now a successful broodmare having left five winners from five foals to the track including Harness Jewels winning mare, Rocker Band.

Others to arrive from Cullen's second crop included; King Cat Anvil($918,191), Molly Darling($575,150), Mighty Cullen($574,945), Classic Cullen($451,660) and Whambam($407,299). That particular crop saw 108 foals with 58 winners - by far not his best in terms of foals to winners but it did produce some of his most prolific sons and daughters.

Cullen's third crop was modest. He left 34 winners from 59 foals, Pay Me Christian - an incredibly fast son, was the best of them.

Then came a very strong crop where 136 foals produced 72 winners with Gotta Go Cullen($1,173,343), Chausettes Blanche($329,250), Cullens Blue Jean($289,056), Fergiemack($230,653), Spicey($162,014) and Charles Bronson($127,255) at the top of the pile for stake earnings. Dobson was back in the action again too, purchasing Gotta Go Cullen - realising the strapping colt had stallion potential.

Jewels winners; Kiwi Ingenuity, Lizzie Maguire and Ohoka Arizona came the following year and in the same year he went to the next level when it came to his progeny at the yearling sales. At the 2008 PGG Wrightson Australasian Classic Yearling Sales at Karaka, Christian Cullen's yearlings averaged a stunning $89,000(24 yearlings). With 9 $100,000 plus yearlings being sold, Cullen was the sire of 8 0f the 9, including the two $200,000 plus sale toppers. At the Christchurch Premier sale, his 34 yearlings averaged just shy of $64,000, with Cullen setting a modern day record for a yearling colt with the sale of Tuapeka Mariner for $250,000. In the two premier yearling sales combined, Christian Cullen sired an unprecedented three $200,000 plus yearlings, 10 $100,000 plus yearlings and 20 $50,000 plus yearlings. In Melbourne, Christian Cullen also topped the APG Yearling Sale with a $100,000 colt.

Those results, coupled with some serious interest from further abroad, saw whispers around Cullen heading to America to stand for a season and Dodson was inundated with requests from breeders from the other side of the world. Prospective clients came down to see Cullen and Dobson in the flesh and also spent a fair amount of time inspecting some of his progeny. They were concerned about the declining gene pool and Christian Cullen was even a well known name in North America. Eventually Ian went to America and hosted a number of top breeders and at the end of the evening had approximately 80 mares booked, however after all the arrangements were made and the stallion sent to America, there was the worldwide financial crash and as a result only about 20 mares ended up getting served. He stood for US$10,000 in that season and although he only produced 26 live foals, 17 of them were winners and his mark is still prominent in America with a large number of Kiwi pacers sold there and performing well.

All Tiger 1:49.1s(401,238), Royal Cee Cee 1:49.3f ($996,432), Mighty Cullen 1:50.2($574,945), Classic Cullen 1:50.4, King Kat Anvil 1:52.4h ($918,191) and Lightning Raider 1:52.4($403,559) have all performed with distinction in the States and Cullen's most prolific son of recent years, Christen Me is headed there as well now.

Back home, Cullen's sixth crop produced the outstanding Stunin Cullen who was a winner of the Sires' Stakes Final as a three-year-old and won close to $1.5 million during his career. Also from that year came Group One winners, Lauraella and Rona Lorraine.

His seven-year-old crop produced 145 foals for 86 winners headed by Franco Emirate($326,830), Royal Cee Cee($996,432), Meredith Maguire($226,167) and Gotta Go Harmony($205,909) before Easy On The Eye($315,650), Statesman($306,632), Hands Christian($263,930), The Muskeg Express($111,331) and Ohoka Texas($174,342) came the next year.

Christen Me hailed from Cullen's next crop alongside Franco Nelson - both multiple Group One winners before Lacharburn, Libertybelle Midfre and All Black Stride came the following year.

What is obvious from these listed horses is Cullen's ability to leave a good horse each year. And while the numbers might have dwindled in recent times, there has been no shortage of good ones still stepping out onto the track as well as those from daughters of the super sire.

Three times he was named Harness Racing New Zealand's Stallion of the Year and on three occasions it took the might of Sundon to lower him from the title. From just over 20,000 starters in 10 seasons at stud, Cullen has produced more than 2,500 winners in New Zealand with his Australian statistics just as good. Stake earnings, from just New Zealand, sit at over $33 million while world-wide they would at least double that.

After the humble breeding beginnings at O'Meara's property, Christian Cullen found his niche at Wai Eyre Farm where Dobson's unforgettable lime green colours made the Cullen brand recognisable on the worldwide stage. In 2013, when Cullen's fertility issues really began to raise their head, Dobson moved Cullen to Nevele R Stud in an effort to rejuvenate the stallion's career. Then in the 2015 and 2016 season Cullen was shifted to Dancingonmoonlight Farm in North Canterbury.

The move came for two reasons, one more final effort to try and raise fertility levels and also to find a place where he would likely retire. Under the watchful eye of Farm Manager Trent Yesberg, Cullen has been given every opportunity. To put the issues Cullen has been facing in layman's terms, Cullen's sperm do not swim in a straight line which makes it very hard for them to make their way to the required destination. All number of tests and ideas have been undertaken but at 22 it would appear as though the body is finally saying enough.

So early this year, after a long amount of time spent thinking and deliberating, Dobson decided to call time on the stallion career of the horse who made him one of the most well-known men in harness racing. A horse who took him all over the world, gave him so many thrills and a couple of heartbreaks too.

Fitting of the champion status he has so rightly earned through, Cullen will enjoy retirement with all the modern luxuries. He's got a big paddock at Dancingonmoonlight and is rugged and fed each day as well as regular farrier work. Two-time New Zealand Trotting Cup winning, Monkey King is there to keep him company from the safety of the other side of the fence and there's still a plethora of people who drive into the property and one of the first questions they ask, whether they are harness racing inclined or not, is whether or not they can grab a picture, or have a look, at Christian Cullen.

And considering it has been 17 years since he last raced, it would seem the pulling power of one of harness racing's greatest champions, as a racehorse and as a stallion, is still just as strong as ever.




Credit: Matt Markham writing in Harnessed Apr 2017