The unraced Christian Cullen-Vicario colt won a a mile work-out in 2.01.2, the last 800m in 57.1 and 400m in a sharp 26.7 on a rain-affected track at Ashburton yesterday.
‘‘The track was a bit wet so it was a smart run,'' Anderson said.
The colt has been with Anderson and Butt for two weeks after being bought by Terry McDonald, of Christchurch and Eddie Griffin, of Dunedin.
‘‘We will look at racing him in the Sires' Stakes heat at Addington,'' Anderson said.
The final heat is tomorrow week and the final on May 16.
Stunin Cullen was previously trained by Nigel McGrath for Mesdames Anne Seaton and A McGrath.
They bought the colt for $65,000 at the Australasian Classic Yearling Sale.
Stunin Cullen is a halfbrother to Coburg and Gustavo. Coburg won 10 races including the NZ Standardbred Breeders' Stakes and NZ Premier Mares Championship. Gustavo took a record of 1.52.6 in the United States,
Their dam, Vicario is a halfsister by Soky's Atom to Il Vicolo and Sparkling Burgundy, the dam of Gotta Go Cullen.
Stunin Cullen qualified at Motukarara on March 19 over 2200m in 2.48, 7.3sec inside the required time. He also won a trial at Rangiora on April 2 in 2.34.3 for 2000m (mobile).
Messrs McDonald and Griffin raced Tuherbs from the Butt-Anderson stable after buying him as an unraced 2yr-old. Tuherbs won nine races, including the 2007 Easter Cup and $210,777 in stakes. He was put down last September after failing to recover from a hind leg injury.
The Live Or Die gelding won the Welcome Stakes at his first start as a 2yrold and a heat of the Sires' Stakes at the same age.
Mountbatten, winner of the work-out for trotters yesterday, will travel to Auckland today. There is a race for him at Alexandra Park tomorrow week as a lead up to the Rowe Cup.
He will join his stablemates Roydon Flash, Goldie Blue, Lotsa Speed and Soncerre. The first three are engaged at the Franklin meeting tomorrow night.
Mountbatten, a last-start winner at Addington on April 4, ran second to Houdini Star at Cambridge, second to One Over Kenny at Cambridge and fifth in the National Trot at Alexandra Park in a northern campaign during the summer.
