Trainer Richard Cully lands Sandown prize

A week after riding over the jumps at the three-day Warrnambool carnival, Richard Cully was in the winners’ circle at Sandown as a trainer.

The dual-licence holder was saddling up his second starter as a trainer and watched Celtic Blast take out Wednesday’s Ladbrokes Cash In Handicap.

Celtic Blast was his first starter but lost rider Justin Huxtable after rearing at the start of a 1000m race at Morphettville on April 6.

Under John Allen, Celtic Blast showed great speed over Wednesday’s 1000m journey in running out a half-neck winner from Deep Euphoria.

“Give me the Bool any day, there’s less pressure,” Cully said.

“The Bool was great although I didn’t get a winner but this makes up for it.”

While still riding over jumps, Cully’s main business is pre-training, having purchased a property just outside Ballarat.

Cully has room for 20 horses and while his racing stock may be limited he said Wednesday’s win was a massive relief that was filled with satisfaction.

“I’m grateful for the opportunity to train the little fella and I was just hoping he’d run well,” Cully said.

“We’ve only got a couple and it’ was hard to know how he’s going, but when he saddled up in the yard, he looked great.”