By MICHAEL GUERIN
Forget the Interdominion Grand Final and the clash with Courage Under Fire - tonight's Hunter Cup is the toughest of Christian Cullen's career.
All the hype surrounding this carnival has been over the $1million Grand Final stake and the impending clash of our two greatest pacers in the Victoria Cup.
That may now be on hold, with Courage Under Fire under an injury cloud, but even if they proceed they may not be as tough as what lies ahead of Christian Cullen tonight.
The bare facts are he has to give most of Australasia's best pacers up to 25m start over 3020m.
That sounds daunting enough but Christian Cullen has pulled off similar miracles before, like winning last season's Auckland Cup off a 15m handicap.
But this is tougher, not just ecause of the extra 10m handicap, because tonight Christian Cullen has virtually no chance of getting his favoured front running role.
Trainer Brian O'Meara has been saying for the last two years Christian Cullen will be even more brilliant when driven with a sit but the last time Christian Cullen was driven off the pace he was beaten - in the 1998 Great Northern Derby.
In every race since his rivals have simply conceded the lead, usually because they weren't fast enough to keep up.
But in Australia drivers don't give the lead away, especially in a $A400,000 race around Moonee Valley, which is a leader's track.
And that is not the worst of it. If Christian Cullen is to be just as potent coming from off the pace he will have to do so with only one run under his belt. And that was an easy mile. This is 3045m of trench warfare.
Horses like Yulestar, Slug Of Jin and even Christian Cullen's stablemate Cigar have only one chance of beating him - staying in front and making him work hard, hoping his condition gives out.
If they try that then Christian Cullen is going to have to outstay them as well as holding out any potential swoopers like Holmes D G or Happy Asset, both of whom have a massive edge in fitness.
O'Meara knows Christian Cullen is up against it but is adamant he can still win.
"I know logic says this will be tough for him but his win last Saturday reminded me, and a lot of other people, how good he is," he said.
The Hunter Cup is traditionally a leader's race, with those sitting close to the pace greatly advantaged. And that could play into the hands of Cigar. The lesser light of the O'Meara barn will have the services of Tony Herlihy and if he leads he could repeat his Summer Cup win of last month at Alexandra Park.
Yulestar probably has more ability than Cigar but can be sluggish early and would not seem ideally suited to the smaller track but has worked well and is another who would be hard to catch if he leads.
Slug Of Jin is a rock hard stayer not well suited by his second line draw so if something behind the front line is going to trouble Christian Cullen then it could be old arch-rival Holmes D G.
If they go very hard in the middle stages he could outsprint most here but is also tough enough to to sit parked and still be a serious threat.
Racing: Hunter tough ask for star
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