Stunin Cullen humbled the opposition in the $30,000 Central Otago Trotting Cup yesterday.
He led over the last 1800m of the 2600m and won by five and a-quarter lengths in 3.12.3, 0.7sec outside the track record set by Lady Toddy in 2005.He sprinted his last 800m in 55.4.
''He felt really good,'' Anthony Butt, his driver, said. ''He will go to the Northern Southland Cup [January 13] now and then we will see about the Hunter Cup.''
The Hunter Cup is in Melbourne on February 5.
Butt has won the Hunter driving Blossom Lady (twice), Mister DG and Mr Feelgood.
The last two have been trained by his brother, Tim, who prepares Stunin Cullen.
• Ready Set lowered the track record by 2.7sec when she recorded her fifth successive win.
She ran the 2600m (mobile) in 3.17.6 and bettered the mark set by Doctor Mickey three years ago.
Ready Set led over the last 1900m and won by two lengths.
''She will go to the Northern Southland meeting next, and that is a standing start which could be a problem,'' Nigel McGrath, her trainer, said.
• Captain Peacock, who won by five lengths after leading for the last 1800m, has the group two $40,000 Pelorus Classic, 2300m (mobile) for 4yr-olds at Waterlea on Sunday, January 16, next on his programme.
• Opting Options emerged as a smart 3yr-old filly with a first-up win yesterday.
Opting Options led and she was pressured from the 800m but drew clear in the run home.
She is trained by Robbie Holmes for Halswell breeder Mike Bidwell, who won three races with her dam, Two Options.
Bidwell was formerly a registrar for the New Zealand Trotting Conference.
Opting Options will race on the grass at Cromwell on Thursday.
• Bruce Graham trained his first winner for 16 years when Flip N Nippy was successful yesterday.
Graham had his previous win as a trainer with Cosmic Product, who won seven races.
He also won five races with Mulocs.
He has taken a renewed interest in training recently with his daughter, Sally, and her partner, Damian Love, assisting in the preparation of eight horses.
• Springbank Sam, the 3yr-old trotter who won yesterday, is being aimed at the New Zealand Hambletonian at Ashburton on February 12.
He is a brother to Pocaro, winner of the 2009 Hambletonian.
Springbank Sam won a Yearling Sales Trot at Ashburton as a 2yr-old.
Rhythmic Sun, a stablemate of Springbank Sam with Phil Williamson, repeated his win of last year in the other trot.
Rhythmic Sun has won his two starts since joining the Williamson stable following a change of ownership.
Craig Porter and his wife, Diane, and Darryn Porter and his wife, Emma, bought out the half share held by trainer Alan Clark.
He previously raced Rhythmic Sun with Clarry and Leckie Porter, parents of Craig and Darryn.
Iris Pointer, the dam of Rhythmic Sun, has been retired from breeding by the Porters after producing a colt by Monarchy.
She is also the dam of the good winner Young Pointer.
• Mighty Memories was confirmed for the Roxburgh meeting tomorrow and Cromwell on Thursday after he won yesterday.
''Roxburgh will really suit him. He likes the small tracks,'' Murray Swain, his trainer, said.
The 8yr-old Mighty Memories has won two races since joining the Swain stable two months ago after a change of ownership.
''My brother [Robin] bought him as a fun horse,'' Swain said.
Mighty Memories is raced by Wendy Swain, wife of the trainer, Amanda Swain (Robin's wife) and Bevan Clark, of Invercargill.
Pashana returned home after her win yesterday.
She has the Sires' Stakes heat for 3yr-old fillies at Waterlea as her next assignment.
