The medium of heavy support, the Christian Cullen colt settled midfield before driver Jodi Quinlan sent him forward three-wide to race upsides with the pacemaking Cowboyup at the bell. Giggling Girl, who set the early tempo, opted to take a trail 500 metres after the start.

Soon after straightening, Cullen Bromac ($3.60 fav.) appeared to have the measure of Cowboyup but the latter fought back resolutely in the latter stages to go down by 1.4 metres.

Giggling Girl (Peter Salathiel) was a further metre back, third.

Cullen Bromac tramped the 1609m. in 1:59.3. The last half was covered in a brilliant 57.8 seconds.

The promising colt is unbeaten in two attempts.

Co-trainer Gary Quinlan said Cullen Bromac will now be sent to the paddock for a few weeks.

"He's got a good will-to-win but he doesn't know what he's doing at this stage," Quinlan said. "We're hoping he'll measure up for the Breeders Crown and the other top races in the winter."

Bred by Bob McArdle's Bromac Lodge and Philtoon Developments, Cullen Bromac is raced by retired Warragul livestock agent Peter Gibbon, a mainstay of the Quinlan stable.

By Peter WHARTON