KEY POINTS:
The first time Todd Mitchell drove Gotta Go Cullen he was worried.
But he is not worried anymore and that spells trouble for his rivals in tonight's $200,000 Woodlands Northern Derby at Alexandra Park.
Gotta Go Cullen has emerged as the pacer to beat in the classic after two front-running victories in the last fortnight and a front line draw that should give him the chance to try for another all-the-way win.
While there is plenty of gate speed inside him, including key rival Changeover, it is hard to imagine Gotta Go Cullen not finding the front and that is where his new, improved attitude could decide the race.
In his prelude last Friday, Gotta Go Cullen easily held out his rivals and was travelling strongly at the line, a far cry from his performance when Mitchell first drove him in the Elsu Classic in December.
"Back then he didn't give me a good feel at all and I'll admit I had my doubts about him," said Mitchell, who won last season's Derby with Monkey King.
"But since he has had a short break, he has come back a different horse.
"The last two starts he has felt a lot sharper, not to mention he is concentrating better in the straight."
Mitchell says that may be because of a change to permanent winkers rather than pull down blinkers.
"When you used to pull them, he would start looking for other horses and pull up.
"But now, he concentrates better and is just a lot better horse."
That change has not been at the sacrifice of Gotta Go Cullen's racing manners, with the leggy pacer having relaxed beautifully in his last two starts.
"In many ways that could be the biggest thing this week, the fact he doesn't over race.
"It means if we do lead, he can cruise along until it is time to get serious and that is a big help over 2700m."
If Gotta Go Cullen leads it is hard to envisage too much mid-race pressure and the key to the race may be where Changeover ends up.
He was enormous running down Fergiemack to win the second prelude last Friday and will love the 2700m tonight.
He has drawn one spot inside Gotta Go Cullen and, if he can work across to the markers first, he could even trail.
That would make him the horse they all have to beat up the passing lane.
His trainer, Geoff Small, is thrilled with how Changeover has come through last week's race and suggests he will be improved tonight.
Aussie visitor Lombo Pocket Watch is at least as good as his Kiwi rivals, maybe better, but looked every uncomfortable on the right-handed track at times last Friday and faces a horror draw at one on the second line tonight.
His best, and possibly only chance, is if the pace is hot throughout and he can finish on over the top.
But that doesn't seem likely.
Fergiemack has the class to win while the rest may be running for place money, with the big four all open-class stars in the making.
