This is the twenty three in a series of articles covering the Interdominion (ID) Trotters Championships conducted over the period 1948 – 2012. These articles will be presented on a track by track basis as opposed to a chronological order with the exception of the first (background and first championship) and last two articles (final championship and statistical analysis).
2009 MOONEE VALLEY – SUNDONS GIFT
The middle one of three consecutive Interdominion Trotters carnivals at Moonee Valley was notable for minimal NZ representation, only One Over Kenny (Tony Herlihy), Lleyton H (Derek Balle) and Roydon Flash (Tim Butt) crossing the Tasman seeking ID honours. Hardly surprising, the two semi-finals at Ballarat were taken out by each country’s leading trotter at the time in Sundons Gift (Australia) and One Over Kenny (NZ).
Saturday 31 January, Ballarat, 2710mM : semi finals
Semi One – SUNDONS GIFT, tr/dr Chris Lang, T3:25.5/T2:02.1; Save A Sixpence (dr Gavin Lang) 2nd; Conquer All (dr Chris Alford) 3rd
Sundons Gift got things underway with a 1.4m victory over Save A Sixpence whose gate speed from barrier three saw him lead from Sundons Gift who sat parked outside him throughout the entire journey. Sundons Gift ultimately managed to win by wearing down Save A Sixpence. The $2 favourite trotted a much quicker overall semi-final time of T3:25.5, 0.4 second outside the track record with a final 800m in 60.5 and 400m in 29.9. Conquer All three back on the rails at the bell finished 2.7m in arrears of Save A Sixpence being ahead of Sundons Tiavon who was a further six metres away in fourth. Kiwi representative Lleyton H finished eighth.
Semi Two – ONE OVER KENNY, tr/dr Tony Herlihy MNZM, T3:29.4/T2:04.4; Skyvalley (dr Gavin Lang) 2nd; Whatsundermykilt (dr Daryl Douglas) 3rd
Kiwi favourite ($1.70) One Over Kenny had a comfortable win in the second semi although in a time four seconds slower than that of Sundons Gift but with a faster last 800m in 58.8 and 400m in 29.0. Three wide in the middle stages and outside leader Ella Powell with a lap to run, One Over Kenny cruised home an easy winner from dead heaters Skyvalley and Whatsundermykilt. Skyvalley driven by Chris Lang, after being three wide in the middle stages, ran on from the one one at the bell recording an excellent effort for a four year old trotter. Whatsundermykilt charged home from three back on the rails with a lap to run. Will Trapper ran fourth and the other Kiwi Roydon Flash finished eighth.
Saturday 7 February 2009 TROTTERS GRAND FINAL, 2575mM, $250,000
As expected, this ID Trotters series was dominated by the two kingpins of Australasian trotting making it a true Trans-Tasman contest, the Grand Final result being proof of this.
SUNDONS GIFT (2001 Sundon/Landoras Pride gelding, family of Dora Parrish N235), owner Neven Botica, trainer/driver Chris Lang, T3:11.6/T1:59.7, 3.1m, nk, 2/2 [T1:54.3, $1,275,264]
One Over Kenny, tr/dr Tony Herlihy, 2nd
Whatsundermykilt, tr Kevin Fairbairn, dr Daryl Douglas, 3rd
(also in finishing order) : Sundons Tiavon, Ronerail, Skyvalley, Save A Sixpence, Billy Royle, Conquer All, Will Trapper, Ella Powell
Consolation : 2575mM, $30,000
LLEYTON H, tr Derek Balle, dr David Butcher, T3:18.2/T2:03.9; Crescent Glory (dr Amy Tubbs) 2nd; Sunny Elegant (dr Chris Lang) 3rd
The Trotters Grand Final was a triumph for NZ bred trotters with the first three home all bred in New Zealand. Sundons Gift a $4.50 second favourite was favoured with the better barrier draw of two compared with his arch rival one Over Kenny, the Kiwi mare and $1.90 favourite drawing six. Chris Lang took full advantage of Sundons Gift’s superior barrier draw taking over with nearly two laps to run from early leader Whatsundermykilt and never being headed thereafter going clear by six metres turning for home. Conversely One Over Kenny was three wide in the running line in the middle stages before parking outside Sundons Gift with a lap to run. Whilst she fought on she was unable to peg back Sundons Gifts lead and only just retained second place from Whatsundermykilt. Chris Lang recorded successive ID Trotters win with Sundons Gift although this being his first as trainer/driver. His extravagant celebration post-race (standing in sulky waving whip) was frowned upon by stewards who relieved him of $1,000.
Whatsundermykilt led early before surrendering his lead to Sundons Gift receiving a lovely run in the trail behind leader Sundons Gift then using the sprint lane finishing third 3.1m and a neck from Sundons Gift. Sundons Tiavon was fourth but a further eight and a half metres in arrears.
Sundons Gift T1:59.7MR makes him the only Trotters Grand Finalist to win in a sub two minute time, his last 800m taking a blistering 56.6 with a final 400m in 28.6. His overall time was a new track record smashing his own previous record. Following the ID’s Trotters Grand Final, Sundons Gifts record stood at forty six starts for twenty four wins worth over $500,000. His connections were to receive an invitation from Sweden to compete in the Elitloppet.
New Zealand tasted success in the Trotters Consolation when Lleyton H driven by David Butcher for his suspended trainer/driver Derek Balle (result of semi-final drive) prevailed by 2.2m in a time 6½ seconds slower than the Grand Final, last 800m in 59.3, final 400m in 30.7. Lleyton H had been three back and one out with a lap to run, three wide with a trail late in the race before powering his way to victory from Crescent Glory who had been one out and two back behind Lleyton H at the bell. Sunny Elegant three wide outside Crescent Glory at the bell and three wide late with a trail finished third 7.1m away.
Sundons Gift (Sundon/Landoras Gift) was bred by Waikato breeders CT (Trevor) and Mrs VM Allingham from champion NZ racehorse and leading Australasian trotting sire Sundon (two ID trotters’ heats). This pedigree is full of Interdominion performers including Sundon (sire of three Trotters Grand Final winners – Delft, Galleons Sunset, Sundons Gift (twice); fifteen winners of twenty two heats; Trotters Consolation; dam sire of one Trotters heat winner) and family of Landoras Gift in N235 Dora Parrish, foundation mare for dual ID Trotters Grand Final winner Sundons Gift; heat winners Sundons Gift (2), his grand dam Landoras Pride (3) and Let Me Thru (2).
Sundons Gift’s sire lines are Peter The Great crossed over Axworthy, Sundon/Landoras Gift, by Chiola Hanover mare from mighty mare Landoras Pride (T2:04.3, $472,842, thirty four wins, forty placings including Dominion Hcp, Rowe/Dullard Cups), by Game Pride. Landoras Pride has been a special broodmare leaving nine foals, all winners including :
- Landoras Gift (four wins, T2:05.6, $35,805, NZ Trotting Filly of Year at two and three), dam five winners including of Sundons Gift, Blown Budget (seventeen wins), Clarkes Hill (SA Trotters Derby)
- Landoras Image (seven wins, T2:05.7, $64,620, Cambridge Trotting Stakes – 2T), dam of Landoras Pearl (3 wins, T2:07.2; dam of One Muscle Hill, T2:01.1, NZ Yearling Sales Series – 2T)
- Invasions Pride (six AUS wins, T2:05.6, $36,765, VIC VSTA Cup, dam of six winners including Let Me Thru nineteen wins, T2:00.0, $453,945, AUS Gold -3T, Breeders Crown/3T/4T, VICSS – 3T, Aust Trotters Championship, Dullard Cup); Miss Bullion nine wins, T1:59.6, $75,075, VICSS – 4T); Class Of Her Own eight wins T2:00.7, $45,025; Lord Liam thirteen wins, T1:59,2, $135,022, Charlton Trotters Cup; Sammy Charles eight wins, T1:59.6, $59,567
- Landoras Special (four wins, T2: 06.3, $28,772, full sister to Landoras Image), dam of two winners, Eyre I Come (ten wins, T1:57.3, $155,485, NZ Trotters Championship; Springbank Eden (ten wins, T2:00.1, $72,597
Sundons Gift was owned by Perth based businessman Neven Botica (mining and mobile lighting solutions). He was also a part owner of another dual ID Trotters champion in Take A Moment (2001, 2003) as a member of the Long Drive Syndicate. Botica purchased Sundons Gift at the 2004 Australasian (Auckland) Classic Yearling Sales held at the Karaka sales complex.
Sundons Gift commenced his race career as a three year old in the stable of Tim Butt where his one three and five four year old starts brought no reward, his best finish a fourth at Omakau (Central Otago TC) in the hand of Phil (Prop) Anderson, later to train in partnership with Butt (2006/7 – 2009/2010 seasons). In 2006, Botica purchased Sundons Gift outright and transferred him to the Victorian stables of Chris (CW) Lang.
Commencing his Australian career six months after arrival from NZ, he won his first start as a late season four year old at Cobram. The now five year old proceeded to win thirteen of his nineteen starts together with two second placings (second Knight Pistol Trotters Cup) in the 2006/7 season (T2:02.2, $88,150) at various Victorian tracks (seven wins at MV). In 2007/8 season as a six year old, he won half his starts with five wins (three at MV), a second (Scotch Notch Memorial) and a third in ten starts (T2:00.3, $132,650). Victories included his first group race wins – Group 3 level Freestone/Cranbourne Trotters Cups, George Gath, Bendigo ABC Trotters FFA and at Group 1 level Aust Trotters Grand Prix.
Sundons Gifts current season in terms of the 2008/9 season (seven year old) saw him elevated up to the highest plateau of Australasian trotting. His ten Australian starts to the conclusion of the 2009 Melbourne ID’s had produced five wins, one second and three thirds (T1:59.7, $277,126). These included Freestone Trotters Cup, Aust Trotting Grand Prix, ID Trotters semi-final and Grand Final. His overall career record to 7 February 2009 showed forty six starts, twenty four wins and seven placings, T1:59.7, $501,509. At this stage the invitation to race in the Elitloppet at Stockholm’s Solvalla racecourse was accepted by Botica and Lang. Continuation of Sundons Gift’s race career is provided as part of the 2010 Melbourne Trotters Interdominions.
2010 MOONEE VALLEY – SUNDONS GIFT
This was the final ever Interdominion (Pacing or Trotting) carnival held at Moonee Valley, the eleventh trotting series held at the racecourse which had been shared with the thoroughbreds. 2008 was the last combined Pacing and Trotting Interdominion held at Moonee Valley, the year Blacks A Fake recorded his third ID Pacers Grand Final win. Defending champion Sundons Gift returned but the series was notable for there being no NZ representatives in attendance, only a good number of NZ bred/ex NZ raced trotters in the fields.
Saturday 30 January, Ballarat 2710mM : semi finals
Semi One – CILLAS EARL, tr/dr Michael Marais, T3:26.2/T2:02.5; Bete Noire (dr Michelle Manning) 2nd; Solar Active (dr Chris Alford) 3rd
With $1.04 favourite Skyvalley for Chris Lang pulling hard in front after leading before wilting to fifth, Cillas Earl after being three wide early and one out one back at the bell, was an impressive 4.3m winner for Michael Marais (Gold N Gold, Noam). His overall time was quicker than that of Sundons Gift in the second semi although a slower last 800m in 60.9 and 400m in 30.5 were recorded. Bet Noire ran on from one out and four back with a lap to run to finish second, Solar Active 1.4m away third running in from four back on the rails with Beau Samurai fourth.
Semi Two – SUNDONS GIFT, tr/dr Chris Lang, T3:326.6/T2:02.7; Acacia Ridge (dr Gary Hoban) 2nd; Heyzeal (dr Greg Sugars) 3rd
Heyzeal led early only to give up the lead to Acacia Ridge who is turn surrendered the lead to Sundons Gift when Chris Lang worked around looking for it. The race was essentially over at that point with Sundons Gift going onto win by 3.2m with a last 800m in a swift 57.4 and 400m in 28.5. Acacia Ridge who trailed Sundons Gift did pop off his back in the straight but Sundons Gift proved far too strong. Heyzeal after leading from the start ended up three back on the rails ran on but was 5.6m behind Acacia Rudge in third position. Don King made ground from four back on the inner for Gavin Lang.
Saturday 6 February 2010 TROTTERS GRAND FINAL, 2575mM, $250,000
The final ever Trotters ID Grand Final at Moonee Valley produced the first Australian trotter to win back to back Grand Finals (Scotch Notch’s two were 1983 and 1985, trained by Graeme Lang and only second ever to win successive finals (pride Of Petite 1996,1997). The last ever Trotters Grand Final in Melbourne and Australasia was run in 2012 at TABCorp Park Melton. Nine of the twelve finalists were NZ bred trotters.
SUNDONS GIFT (2001 Sundon/Landoras Pride gelding, family of Dora Parrish N235), owner Neven Botica, trainer/driver Chris Lang, T3:13.7/T2:01.0, 9.5m, 3.8m, favourite [T1:54.3, $1,275,264]
Kasyanov, tr Stuart Gillespie, dr Daryl Douglas, 2nd
Skyvalley, tr Chris Lang, dr Chris Lang jnr, 3rd
(also in finishing order) : Cillas Earl, Acacia Ridge, Solar Active, Don King, Heyzeal, Joe Bro, Red Samurai, Bete Noire, Dream A Moment
Consolation : 2575mM, $30,000
RONERAIL, tr Michael Hughes, dr Jodi Quinlan, T3:14.4/T2:01.5; Earl Of Mot (dr Lance Justice) 2nd; Kyvalley Mac (dr Chris Lang jnr) 3rd
The first four trotters home in the Grand Final were NZ bred, quite some feat but then again seventy five percent of the field were born in NZ. The writing was on the wall the moment Sundons Gift drew one behind the mobile gate. At prohibitive odds of $1.60, he used his gate speed (enhanced by his European trip the previous year) and led all the way to be a comfortable 9.5m winner over Kasyanov. The overall time was two seconds slower than Sundons Gift recorded in 2009, final 800m in 58.6 and last 40m in 29.7.
Kasyanov at odds of 147/1, after drawing one on the second line had the trail behind Sundons Gift which was used to advantage by Daryl Douglas to finish second. The former Kiwi who was bred/trained/driven and part owned by Dr Luk Chin with his father Chin Bing Foon’s (Bing Chin) estate, Kasyanov was now resident in Queensland. Skyvalley was three wide and one back with a lap to run and three wide late with a trail ran on powerfully for third 3.8m behind Kasyanov. Semi-final winner Cillas Earl closely followed in fourth position.
The win gave Sundons Gift successive ID Trotters Grand Final victories, Chris Lang his third training success all at Moonee Valley after Galleons Sunset in 2008 and almost the training quinella with son Chris Lang junior finishing third on Skyvalley. Chris Lang also trained Kyvalley Mac third in the Trotters Consolation. Sundons Gift record stood at fifty seven starts for twenty nine wins worth just under $800,000.
Consolation winner Ronerail was favourite, led all the way to win by 4.7m from former Kiwi Earl Of Mot in a last 80m of 59.3 and last quarter in 29.4.
Sundons Gift breeding and ownership details can be found above under the 2009 ID Trotters Grand Final story. His race record up to the 2009 Trotters Grand Final is also recorded earlier. Following the 2009 Melbourne ID’s and prior to travelling to Europe, Sundons Gift won the Maoris Idol Memorial. Sundons Gift joined previous Southern Hemisphere trotters to have raced in the Elitloppet in Petite Evander, Pride Of Petite, Knight Pistol, Special Force, Lyell Creek, and Touch Of flair. In Sweden, his four starts resulted in three starts at Solvalla for a sixth to American Global Glide (1640 metres in T1.56.7), sixth to Standpoint (USA in T1.54.6 mile), sixth to Jaded (SWE) in his Elitloppet heat (T1:52.2 mile) meaning he did not qualify for the final. His final Swedish start was at Boden where he ran fifth to Global Glide (USA) before returning to Australia. Although not assisted by the bad barrier draws he had received, his four starts had yielded placed times of 1.57.9; 1.55.4; 1.53.8 and 1.57.4, together with stakes of A$9,834.
As an eight year old in the 2009/2010 season, Sundons Gift collected a further eight victories in Australia together with two seconds (Bill Collins Mile, Sumthingaboutmaori Trot) with four wins at Melton and one each at, Menangle and Moonee Valley including Aust Trotting Grand Prix, Cochran Trotters Cup, ID Trotters heat and Grand Final, NSW Trotters Mile (ID Pacers Grand Final day, in new best mile tie of T1:56.3), Maoris Idol Memorial, Uncle Petrika FFA and TABCorp ABC Trotters FFA. Taken to NZ for the Rowe Cup, he finished seventh in a lead up race over 2700m (off 30m) but win the Rowe Cup over 3200m in a time of T4:08.5 (T2:04.9). His seasonal stake earnings amounted to just under a half million ($494,670).
The nine year old season of Sundons Gift consisted of ten starts for six wins and two second placings (Dullard/Cranbourne Trotters Cups) with four at Melton (Freestone for third time/Chris Howe Trotters Cups, Aust Trotting Grand Prix and a race named after him Sundons Gift Trotters FFA), one at Menangle in NSW Trotters Mile establishing a new Australasian record of T1:54.3, his best ever mile time and Bill Collins Mile at Cranbourne. In addition, he started in the 2011 Auckland ID’s in an attempt to become the first three time Trotters ID Champion after competing in a lead up race, City of Sails FFA finishing fourth. In the first round of heats he finished eleventh from a second row draw later being tested for infection and injury. Nothing was detected but he was withdrawn from the carnival on the evening of the second round of heats after pulling up lame during his warm up. Sundons Gift’s seasonal earnings were $206,421.
Just the eight starts at ten (2011/2012) with one victory first up in the Chris Howe Trotters Cup at Melton (his second win in the event) to go with seconds in the Aust Trotting Grand Prix, an ID heat at Shepparton and a third in the Ballarat ID heat. His ID Trotters Grand Final start resulted in a twelfth and last placing in the final ever ID Trotters Grand Final held at Melton. His seasonal earnings were $46,250 with a best mile rate of T2:02.4. After a twelve month break from the track, as an eleven year old his final season consisting of four starts resulted in one placing before retiring. This was achieved first up in the Melton Trotters Cup behind Mister Zion. His last start came in the Group One Knight Pistol over 1720m at Melton on 8 March 2013 finishing eighth after which he was retired.
Sundons Gift retired the winner of forty one races from eighty six starts with eleven seconds and six thirds, stakes of $1,275,264 and a best mile rate of T1:54.3. Sundons Gift was Australasian Grand Circuit champion in 2010 and 2011 and was the fourth trotter and second NZ bred trotter to be inducted into the Interdominion Hall of Fame.
Peter Craig
17 October 2018
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