Racing: You Gotta fancy this Cullen

One of the most dazzling trials of the year left Nicole Thorn worried on Tuesday.

For about five minutes.

Thorn piloted exceptional juvenile Gotta Go Cullen to a scary win at the Rangiora trials on Tuesday, well, scary if you are one of his rivals in tonight's $150,000 Sires' Stakes Final at Addington.

The budding champion was in need of a solid hitout on Tuesday as he had not raced for a month.

But his demolition of race-rival Flak Jacket was completely out of the ordinary.

While Gotta Go Cullen has proven he has a massive motor by winning five of his seven starts it is extremely rare for a juvenile pacer to trial in 2:27.7 for 2000m, pacing his last 800m in 57.4 seconds on a sticky track.

When Thorn heard the times upon returning to the stabling area she was worried she may have asked too much of the muscular colt so close to tonight's feature.

"But when we checked his heart rate it returned to normal quicker than it usually does after a serious workout at home.

"Sue (Martin, trainer) was thrilled with him and I don't think there will be any problem with the run flattening him.

"I am starting to think he is just that good things like that don't matter to him."

The stunning trial was the second half on a one-two punch Gotta Go Cullen landed on Tuesday, the first being when he drew barrier three for tonight's 1950m feature.

That should be enough to see him roll to the front once the field settles and from there he looks every cent the $1.40 favourite bookmakers opened him at yesterday.

"That is what I am hoping happens and I think it would be the most likely situation," admits Thorn.

"I can see Jackson Street and Changeover (drawn inside) having a bit of a go for the lead and then I'd be surprised if whoever leads doesn't hand up to us.

"But I have spoken to Sue about the possibility of things not working out that way and what we would do if we have to sit parked early."

That would seem unlikely, especially with second prize being so much and whoever takes a trail behind Gotta Go Cullen knowing they will follow the perfect horse to the passing lane.

Thorn is adamant Gotta Go Cullen is a more complete racehorse than when he easily beat many of tonight's rivals in the Cardigan Bay Stakes in March and also when he downed Fergiemack in the Welcome Stakes last month.

"He is learning more all the time and is definitely better. But I am sure Changeover and Fergiemack have also improved."

Changeover has to be the logical danger after his easy win in last Saturday's Sales Series Pace under similar circumstances.

He will lead, trail or at worst be handy tonight and with the favourite set to dominate the race it is hard to see how he won't figure in the placings.

Whether he is a natural enough two-year-old to down Gotta Go Cullen, or just a very talented pacer a year away from fulfilling his potential, remains the question.

Fergiemack has looked the second best freshman pacer in the country for the last two months and got close to Gotta Go Cullen in the Welcome Stakes.

He has since downed one-time hype horse Mombassa at Addington and confirmed his improvement with a commanding performance against older horses on a wet track at Timaru on Sunday.

His gate speed may have been nullified by his drawing outside the favourites at barrier five but he should still settle handy and if the leaders burn hard early he looks the biggest beneficiary.

"I think he is the one to beat because he has a very fast sprint which will be hard to hold out," admits Thorn.

The field has such depth high class juveniles Mombassa, Christian Warrior, Flak Jacket and Cast Adrift, all of whom have won or been placed in major races this season, should be paying at least $20.

They all rank as at least trifecta chances but would need some serious bad luck to plague the favourites to have winning hopes.