Trotting great Sundees Son has again shown all the qualities of a true champion with a third consecutive win in the $300,000 Renwick Farms Dominion Trot, with Self Assured and Millwood Nike also starring with Group 1 victories at Addington this afternoon.
Sundees Son, the reigning Horse of the Year looked to be headed in the prestigious Group 1 but rallied to just pip arch rival Muscle Mountain by a long head.
Trained by Robert and Jenna Dunn, and expertly driven by John Dunn, Sundees Son was parked at one stage before going to the lead with 1800m to go.
Muscle Mountain, the second favourite, was poised to strike in the trail and appeared to actually lead with 200 to go but Sundees Son came back like the champion he is.
He has now had six starts over 3200 metres and won five of them.
“I thought he was out at the furlong (200m) but he came back, he’s a true champion,” says John Dunn, “we are not going to have another one like him.”
A $1.3m earner even before today’s race Sundees Son has now won 34 times from 72 starts.
He is the first to win the Dominion three times since Take A Moment in the early 2000s, and received a standing ovation from the Addington crowd.
Muscle Mountain was second with Five Wise Men third.
In blustery conditions Sundees Son’s winning time of 3:58.4 was nearly two seconds outside his race record last year (3:56.6).
Race 12 : Airpark Canterbury NZ Pacing Free For All
Self Assured has won an epic trans-Tasman battle in the Airpark Canterbury New Zealand Free For All.
It was a frentically run race, with favourite Rock N Roll Doo leading them round the home turn only for fellow Australian Majestic Cruiser to make his bid before Self Assured emerged from the ruck to win by the merest of margins.
Self Assured had warmed up for today’s Group 1 with an encouraging fifth in Tuesday’s New Zealand Cup.
Majestic Cruiser was second after a super run, as was Old Town Road in finishing third.
Self Assured paid $6.80 and $2.10.
The winning time for the 1980m was 2:21.9.
Race 7 Dunstan Horsefeeds Sires’ Stakes 2YO Fillies Final :
Brilliant filly Millwood Nike made it seven from seven with another emphatic victory in today’s first Group 1 at Addington.
The classy daughter of Captaintreacherous had to negotiate some traffic problems but she rocketed home to win this afternoon’s $150,000 Group 1 Dunstan Horsefeeds Sires’ Stakes 2YO Fillies Final.
She started a hot favourite to remain unbeaten though there were some question marks after drawing the second row.
Kahlua Flybye, as expected, led initially before Mark Purdon went three wide and then sat parked with his star filly. Turning for home she gave her rivals no chance.
“I was looking for the gaps the last 600 but she gobbled up the leaders pretty quickly when the gaps came,” said Purdon post-race.
Millwood Nike has won seven from seven for her ownership group that includes former Kiwis and Warriors coach Frank Endacott.
“She’s just brilliant,” said commentator Matt Cross, “she’s seven from seven, she’s the perfect racehorse.”
The winning time for the 1980m was 2:21.1
The country’s leading trainers Steve and Amanda Telfer finished second, third and fourth with Kahlua Flybye, Aardiebytheseaside and Sweet Diamond.
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