by Matt Markham
When there’s nowhere left to go other than the big show, then that’s where you’ll end up. Just ask John Dunn, he’s facing that very problem this week.
The North Canterbury horseman, who handles the day-to-day running of his father Robert’s Woodend Beach stable, has Sunday’s Canterbury Country Cups Final winner Cullect A Guinness ready and rearing for battle at home and the only viable option available this week is a shot at the big guns in Saturday night’s Group 1 Easter Cup at Addington.
“There’s not really a lot of options for us to be honest,” Dunn said on Sunday.
“I wouldn’t do it if I didn’t think he could run a big race though, he’s good enough to be competitive in a race like that.”
Second in the Invercargill Cup earlier this year behind Costa Del Magnifico, Cullect A Guinness may be a slightly better horse now, although he will have to be against an impressive looking Easter Cup line up.
He was brilliant at Methven on Sunday, winning the $25,000 Country Cups final in emphatic fashion.
Probably most pertinent to the cause this week was the impressive pair of heels the pacer showed from the stand start.
“We had to get in front of Seel The Deal if we were to beat him and in the end that’s what won us the race.
“He’s had a great season when you look back and winning this race is a real nice way to acknowledge that.”
Bred and owned by Peter Higinbottom, Cullect A Guinness has now won nine of his 21 career starts as well as eight minor placings.
He will be one member of a three strong attack in the Easter Cup for the Dunn stable with Franco Nelson and Mighty Flying Mac also nominated.
Star attractions Smolda and Locharburn are both there as well alongside Sky Major.
Belkmyster, Costa Del Magnifico and Seel The Deal make up the remainder of the field for the $100,000 race.
Paul Nairn was another to shine at Methven on Sunday. After winning two races at Addington on Friday night, he repeated the dose on Sunday with another brace.
He won the maiden trot with Landora’s Girl who is raced by prominent owners and breeders, Lex and Heather Williams.
Originally trained in the North Island, the daughter of The Pres took full advantage of a swift beginning to lob the trail and held too many guns for her opposition in the straight.
A few races later, Nairn was back in the winner’s circle when his exciting two-year-old Habibi Inta remained unbeaten, winning his second race from as many starts.
The brother to proven Group 1 performer, Habibti as well as a host of other star trotters worked hard to the lead and held off a determined challenge from the ever-improving Enghien to win by a narrow margin in a time of 2.05.1 for the one mile, a slick recording considering the grass track racing surface.
Approved By Dean Baring www.harnessbred.com
Driving The Future Of Harness Racing
