Outstanding Western District pacer Keayang Cullen is poised to set the Bray Raceway circuit on fire for the second time in the space of a week.
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Fresh from a track record-equalling trial last Saturday morning, when the outstanding seven-year-old clocked a sizzling 1:55.4 mile rate over 2200-metres, Keayang Cullen lines up in Friday night’s $30,000 Laser Electrical Ballarat Lightning Mile.
Trained by Margaret Lee at Terang and driven by her concession reinsman son Jason, the brilliant pacer headlines a small but exceptionally gifted seven-horse field for the group 3 feature to be run over a flying 1609-metre journey.
He makes his first race day appearance since taking out the $60,000 group 2 Breeders’ Crown Graduate Free-For-All at Melton on August 22, and will be striving to extend a spectacular seven-race winning streak which began at Victoria’s harness racing headquarters on June 20 this year.
The presence of boom Kiwi import Maximan adds major interest to the event, given the six-year-old is yet to taste defeat in three Australian outings for astute Melton horseman Andy Gath.
Multiple Country Cup winner Im Corzin Terror has the coveted pole position and, significantly, is the fastest horse in the event with a career-best mark of 1:52.2 to his credit.
Prepared at Avalon by Amanda Grieve, the seven-year-old will strip fitter for a first-up fourth behind Maximan on September 19 and boasts the services of champion reinsman Chris Alford in the sulky.
Hamilton pacer Abettorpunt is another superstar at the start of what should be lucrative racing campaign, returning to the track for the first time since claiming the $100,000 group 1 Bohemia Crystal Free-For-All at Menangle on March 2 this year.
Meanwhile, hopes of a local victory rest with last season’s Ararat Pacing Cup winner Savesomtimetodream, who is returning for a second tilt at Lightning Mile glory and has drawn nicely in barrier two for Ross Creek trainer Paul Rowse.
Ballarat and District Trotting Club hopes to build the Lightning Mile into one of Victoria’s most important sprint events, with a stake rise to $50,000 and elevation to group 2 status in the pipeline.
Friday night’s race launches a rich program of short-course pacing features, leading into the time-honoured Popular Alm Sprint at Kilmore on October 26, the $50,000 group 2 Smoken Up Sprint (formerly the Legends Mile) at Tabcorp Park, Melton on November 7 and the $750,000 Miracle Mile at Menangle (NSW) on November 29.
Fittingly, reigning champion Smoken Up – whose illustrious and highly-decorated racing career only recently drew to a close – and trainer/driver Lance Justice will be special guests of the club and will lead out the Lightning Mile field.
His retirement has also been marked with the naming of the Smoken Up Tribute Pace, which is race six on a bumper 10-race program.