By MICHAEL GUERIN
A ping pong ball ruined the most eagerly awaited clash of the racing season yesterday.
For more than a year the entire harness racing industry and many people from outside it has been waiting for the first meeting of Kiwi champions Christian Cullen and Courage Under Fire. Their clash in Saturday night's Victoria Cup is still on but one was blessed and the other damned by yesterday's barrier.
Christian Cullen's trainer Brian O'Meara could barely hide his delight as a ping pong ball sporting the No 1 dropped out of the barrier draw barrel for Christian Cullen.
But 20 seconds later Courage Under Fire's week went from bad to worse.
As if it wasn't bad enough the 4-year-old losing his unbeaten record to the very average open class pacer Kyema Kid last Saturday, Courage Under Fire then had the misfortune to draw the worst possible barrier yesterday.
He will start from the outside of the front line, which, realistically, gives him little chance of settling anywhere but near last.
And while Courage Under Fire, still bat-tling to get 100 per cent fit, will be ducking for cover, Christian Cullen is guar-anteed a soft lead and almost certain victory.
The draw prompted O'Meara to regurgitate one of the silliest harness racing myths of recent years - that Christian Cullen paced his first 200m in 11 seconds in an Interdominion heat at Alexandra Park last season.
But the Canterbury trainer is only repeating what he has been told and regardless of how stupid the 11-second for 200m claim is the fact remains Christian Cullen is the fast beginner in Australasia.
"He has been flying in his work so I would have been confident no matter what draw he got but this is a big help," said O'Meara.
"There is no way any horse will cross him at the start."
After his staggering Hunter Cup run to start the Inters, Christian Cullen should be able to dominate Saturday's Cup, particularly as his opponents will be wary of taking the champ on midway through the richest Interdom series held. There is, after all, still the big one - the $1million Grand Final on February 12 to go.
The big winner yesterday was ironically the horse who sabotaged Christian Cullen's Hunter Cup.
West Australian pacer Saab, who knocked Christian Cullen sideways in the Hunter Cup, has drawn one on the second line and should have few problems holding the leaders back and getting the run of the race.
While the Victoria Cup is the strongest field assembled in Australasia since the 1995 Interdom Final at Addington, bookies are taking no chances with Christian Cullen who was a $1.30 favourite yesterday.
Courage Under Fire opened at $7 in the betting, remarkable for a horse who hasn't paid more than $1.20 for over a year.
And trainer Bruce Negus says his champ should be paying more.
"We simply can't win from out there," he said.
"Firstly we have the fitness concerns and the heel abscess he had is still bothering him a bit.
"I am confident I can get him right for the Grand Final but on Saturday he will be driven for luck and try to get the best points he can."
Last Saturday's effortless heat winner Shakamaker is a $8 third favourite for the Victoria Cup while Hunter Cup winner Yulestar is a $20 shot. Miracle Mile quinellamates Holmes D G and Slug Of Jin also fared terribly in yesterday's draw and were rated $14 and $16 chances respectively.
The field for Saturday's $A250,000 Victoria Cup is : Christian Cullen (1), Tailamade Lombo (2), Breeny Fella (3), Kyema Kid (4), Shakamaker (5), Yulestar (6), Courage Under Fire (7), Saab (8), Safe And Sound (9), Happy Asset (10), Holmes D G (11), Slug Of Jin (12).
Racing: Barrier draws rule out clash of stellars
AdvertisementAdvertise with NZME.