Harness racing is full of sayings about what what you should or shouldn't do when it comes to buying yearlings at the sales.
One of the oldest is never buy a full brother to a champion as lightening very rarely strikes twice in the same place.
No one obviously told well known owner and breeder Ian Dobson who pursued the budding champion Locharburn's full brother Cullenburn with a vengeance throughout his time in the ring at the New Zealand Premier Yearling Sale at Christchurch yesterday and was never letting him go at any stage.
In the end, Ian had to front up with $160,000 for Cullenburn but you got the feeling from the bidding that the money was inconsequential and Ian just wanted the great looking colt by his own superstar, Christian Cullen in his racing team.
With Christian Cullen unable to commercially serve mares anymore, then all colts by him as well bred as Cullenburn, become possible successors if they can star on the track.
Cullenburn certainly has the pedigree to be a star on the track.
His full brother Locharburn looks the next big thing on the New Zealand harness racing scene if he can stay sound.
His dam Suzys Delight was a very smart racemare ($48,186) and a full sister to Ruling V C 1:52 ($312,919) so there are plenty of classy horses close up in the pedigree.
When one has a look at Cullenburn in the flesh, you can understand a bit more why Ian went to $160,000 to buy him.
Cullenburn is just an absolute bull to look at and appears like a Christian Cullen that is going to just get up and run as a two year old.
He looks very strong through the neck and shoulder but doesn't appear to the walking hulk that his full brother is.
Trainers have always been split when it comes to the merits or otherwise of full brothers at yearling sales but like he has always done in his time in harness racing, Ian Dobson follows his own instincts in matters like this and has come out on the right side plenty of times in the past.
All we can do is wish him good luck and watch Cullenburn's progress over the next two to three years with plenty of interest.
Harnesslink Media