Three in a row for Secret Wish at Addington

By Michael Guerin

Team Cullen face a tough task trying to better their heroics of last season in the three-year-old pacing fillies but they might just have the girl to give it a crack.

Because Secret Wish is looking more special every time she steps on to the track this campaign.

The half sister to Chase A Dream made it three wins from as many starts this year when she wore down a very brave Cath in the $50,000 Magness Benrow Sires’ Stakes Semi Final at Addington on Friday night.

While she will have a long way to go to catch up to the effort of Hayden and Amanda Cullen’s outstanding trio of last season in Arafura, General Jen and Winelight, Secret Wish is heading north to start that chase. 

“We have always liked her but she just keeps getting better,” Hayden told HRNZ.

“She is tough but her biggest asset is following a helmet because she has blazing speed.”

The Cullens had the option of taking Secret Wish to Invercargill for the Southland Oaks but will bypass that to target the Northern Oaks on May 1 and the Sires’ Stakes Final a week later.

She shares favouritism with Cath for the Oaks and they sit together on the second line behind Ripples for the Sires’ Stakes.

Secret Wish, by Bettor’s Wish, was bred by Brian West’s Studholme Bloodstock and then retained by him. 

“I have got another really nice filly for Brian called Wat Fun starting in the Leonard Memorial on Sunday and I think she will develop into a good one,” says Cullen. 

The stable are looking forward to a “Larry-less” next three Fridays in Auckland with We Walk By Faith aiming at next Friday’s Taylor Mile.

On a night of some big performances at Addington one of the best training efforts came from Bob Butt as he produced Donna’s Boy to win the Future Wealth Sires’ Stakes Classique in his first start since December.

The big trotter trailed and got over the top of One Over Da Line late to snare a $25,000 first prize for owner Prop Anderson.

“I’m stoked to get a big win for Prop who sent the horse out to me because he was too big to work on his track,” says Butt.

“He is a really honest horse who is getting better and we have a very similar race in three weeks in the Uncut Gems so it could be a big month for him.”

Butt heads north next week with The Lazarus Effect, also aiming at the Taylor Mile, and was happy with the son of Lazarus breaking 54 seconds for his last 800m at the trials earlier this week.

“I am really happy with him but it won’t be easy against Swayzee and Got The Chocolates.”

Speaking of Team Dunn they trained two of the first four winners on Friday with Sacetas and Travel Agent while John also drove Whatz The Luck to win for the in-laws Craig and Aimee Edmonds.

But the “wow” moment of the night was just how tough Take The Miki was when winning as the big horse outstayed his rivals for a wonderful win in the R47-51 continuing his great comeback form for new trainer Warren Stapleton.