Racing: Victorian juvenile to take on NZ's best

After what the connections of Cullen Bromac have been through in the past 16 months they can probably just laugh off their tricky barrier draw in Saturday's $300,000 Sales Series Pace at Addington.

Compared with the real-life horrors they have experienced, a bad barrier draw in a feature race is just a speed bump on the highway of life.

The Australian-trained 2-year-old returns to his country of birth for the richest juvenile race of the season on Saturday and looked the only real threat to local star Major Mark. Until the barrier draw.

Cullen Bromac is unbeaten in four starts in Victoria and with a good draw would have had plenty of backers willing to say he could beat Major Mark.

However, he has drawn one on the second line while the favourite has drawn perfectly at barrier two, perhaps sealing his fate.

Regardless of what happens on Saturday though, you know trainers Debbie and Gary Quinlan and owner Peter Gibbon feel blessed just to be part of the great race. Or even alive.

The Quinlans bought Cullen Bromac from the Christchurch sales last year just days after experiencing the full horror of the Black Saturday bushfires.

Their property at Drouin, in rural Victoria, was engulfed in flames and only a miraculous wind change saved their house and main stable, and possibly their lives.

Owner Gibbon is continuing his second fight against cancer, one which may keep him from making the trip to Addington.

"Peter desperately wanted to race a really good horse while he had the chance," said Deb Quinlan this week.

"As much for Gary and I as for himself. So we are thrilled to get him one like this fella.

"He is such a special horse to us on so many levels. We hoped he would make a good horse because of the circumstances around his purchase and the timing of it and he hasn't let us down."

Cullen Bromac has looked the best juvenile in Australia this season, with his four wins stamping him as a serious freshman.

While New Zealand's best juveniles pacers tend to have an edge over their Australian rivals, this season's local freshman crop is not strong, with Canterbury pacer Major Mark the clear standout but still a horse with an occasional mental weakness.

Cullen Bromac's draw means he will need a lot to go his way on Saturday afternoon but after the past 16 months his connections have endured, they deserve a break.

HORROR STORY
* The connections of Australian pacer Cullen Bromac have experienced a horror past 16 months.
* His trainers lost much of their property in last year's Victorian bushfires.
* His owner is battling cancer.