by Dave Di Somma, Harness News Desk
Sundees Son is a millionaire.
With John Dunn driving the trotting superstar for the 50th time tonight, the seven-year-old has cruised to a three length victory in race 5 at Addington, the Woodlands Stud Free-For-All Trot.
It was a commanding win, especially after arch-rival Muscle Mountain broke at the start.
Sundees Son’s earnings were $999,667 going into tonight’s race and the $11,000 winner’s stake takes him easily to seven figures ($1,010,667).
It was his 28th win in 62 starts. The winning time for the 2600m (stand) was 3:20.90.
Ten fun facts about New Zealand’s newest millionaire Sundees Son
1. Sundees Son is the 11th Australasian-bred trotter to earn a million dollars.
2. He’s the first to earn $1m and never race outside the country. I Can Doosit is the only other trotter to earn a million dollars in NZ but he also won over $300,000 in Australia.
3. He has won 8 Group Ones, including both the Dominion and the Rowe Cup twice.
4. While John Dunn (50 times) has been his regular driver, others to have steered the star on race day include Ross Houghton (4 including his first 2 wins), Ricky May (1), Gavin Smith (6) and Andre Poutama (1).
5. Sundees Son holds three New Zealand trotting records, the 2200 mobile (2:39.1), and the 3200 m stand (3:56.6) and also the 2700 mobile for horses and geldings (3:20.3)
6. His strike-rate is 28 wins from 62. He’s earned on average around $16,300 every start.
7. Sundees Son is by Majestic Son out of Stardon. Stardon (Sundon – Chiquita Dee) won three from 21 for Sundees Son’s breeder/co-owner Colin Hair.
8. Sundees Son has won at five different racetracks – Addington (17), Alexandra Park (7), Ashburton (2), Invercargill (1) and Omakau (1).
9. While Sundees Son is trotting’s pin-up boy right now he is actually third on the stakes-earning list this year. He has now won $46,250 in 2022, with Bolt For Brilliance ($59,250) and Highgrove ($61,848) above him.
10. He’s just the seventh trotter to be named Horse of the Year, along with I Can Doosit, Take A Moment, Lyell Creek, Merinai, Sir Castleton and No Response.
Trotting’s list of millionaires is :
Lyell Creek with $2,961,137.
Sundon’s Gift ($1,460,561)
I Can Doosit ($1,445,774)
Speeding Spur ($1,304,992)
Take A Moment ($1,164,356)
Stent ($1,156,750)
One Over Kenny ($1,098,007)
Keystone Del ($1,088,449)
Tornado Valley ($1,031,977)
Vulcan ($1,025,892)
Sundees Son ($1,010,667)
