By Tayler StrongThe star 3-year-old pacing filly Bonnie Joan is perpetuating the name of the founder of the Tuapeka Lodge stud, the late Joan Cummings.
Tuapeka Lodge, at Lawrence (Central Otago) is now in the hands of her sons, Dan and Peter Cummings and daughter Julie Davie, who bred and race Bonnie Joan.
Bonnie Joan won the $45,000 Southland Oaks (2700m, mobile) at Invercargill on Sunday in National record time for a 3-year-old filly of 3.17.1 (1.57.4 mile rate) and within 0.1sec of the record for all genders set by Sushi Sushi at Alexandra Park in 2011. Bonnie Joan had scorched over 1700m (mobile) in 1.53.8 rate in wet conditions at her previous start at Forbury Park, a New Zealand record for a 3-year-old.
A daughter of Somebeachsomewhere – Wave Runner, Bonnie Joan was broken in, gaited and qualified on grass at Balfour (Southland) as a 2-year-old when trained by Dan Cummings, She was then passed to West Melton trainer Cran Dalgety for racing.
She finished second to Delightful Memphis in the Group Three Leonard Memorial Stakes at Addington in her lone start at two. She has won seven of her 10 starts at three.
Joan Cummings established Tuapeka Lodge in 1965 with the mare Charlton Lady (Hal Tryax –Loyal Winner).
Wave Runner, the dam of Bonnie Joan, traces to Mains Lady.
“Mum bought Mains Lady (in 1969) as she was by Light Brigade out of a mare by U Scott,” recalled Dan.
Light Brigade and U Scott were both leading sires and leading broodmare sires on several occasions.
Mains Lady had then produced a foal who died. Her best effort in 33 starts over five seasons of racing was a second placing.
Mains Lady left four foals for the late Cliff and Joan Cummings, the best of them Tuapeka Dream, who won five races when trained by Ali Malcolmson in Dunedin.
Tuapeka Dream (by Lumber Dream) returned to Tuapeka Lodge for breeding and left Maureen’s Dream, a speedy Lordship mare who won over 2000m (mobile) in 2.27.7 (1.58.8 mile rate) at Addington in 1985 when trained by Richard Brosnan.
Maureen’s Dream left Seamoon (by Smooth Fella), a winner and the dam of Wave Runner, a Live Or Die mare who won eight races when trained by Simon Adlam and leased out by Tuapeka Lodge. Two of the lessees Mike Atkins and Greg Adlam subsequently bought Wave Runner.
Break Dance, a half-sister by Art Major to Bonnie Joan, is leased out by Tuapeka Lodge. Break Dance won the final of the Southern Belle series at Winton in 1.53. 3 in April from the Waikouaiti stable of Amber Hoffman.
Break Dance was successful at Alexandra Park last Friday. The first four foals of Wave Runner have been winners and the fifth, Kilowatt Kid has qualified.
Approved By Dean Baring www.harnessbred.com
Driving The Future Of Harness Racing
