Dunn and his nephew Dexter Dunn combined their talents to produce the impressive 2 Year Old qualifier Strathcullen (Christian Cullen-Lanoch) to post an outstanding 2:29.8 (58.4, 27.6) in the juvenile mobile 2000 metres.

The necessary qualifying time for the trip was 2:36.2.

Strathcullen, raced by Bob Sandford, led up and dug deep to withstand the challenge of O K Courage (Courage Under Fire-O K Adios) who was credited with the same time (mile rate, 2:00.5).

O K Courage is raced by Queenslander Greg Brodie, who raced his distinguished sire Courage Under Fire.

Bruce Negus prepares O K Courage although Mark Jones is a hands on “on site trainer’’ at Negus’s Burnham while Negus is based at Waikouaiti which he often is.

Strathcullen was consigned to last year’s (2007) NZ Premier Yearling Sale by breeder Michael Stratford, the committed Christchurch industry stalwart.

House produced a potentially grand young pacer in McKay, a $150,000 yearling purchase last year by Clive and Rona McKay to run his juvenile rivals ragged over 2000 (mobile) in 2:34.9, winning under a firm hold (58.2, 28.9).

McKay, who promises to be well served by time, is from well performed Kliklite, the dam of former Mark Purdon trained star Top Tempo, now with Graeme Rogerson and Peter Simpson.

Jasper Macfaber and The Court Owl are well-performed pacers from this family.

Nairn looked to have the goods in the trotter Brite N Up who impressively sustained front running tactics in the non winners trotting heat over 2600 metres in 3:33.9, home in 60.9 and 29.1

Brite N Up stayed grimly and revealed foolproof qualities in the typical Nairn mould, suggesting he will be no forlorn hope at Addington on Thursday night.

Brite N Up is likely to carry on to Forbury Park next week, Nairn said.

Don Wright