Hot favourite Sundees Son has won his second straight Renwick Farms Dominion with a powerhouse and record-breaking display at Addington this afternoon.
The defending champion was only seriously challenged by stablemate Mataderos over the concluding stages as he again showed why he is the best trotter in the country.
It’s Sundees Son’s eighth Group One success. His time of 3:56.6 smashed the New Zealand record that he set in the same race last year (4:00.05).
Trained by Robert and Jenna Dunn and driven by John Dunn, Sundees Son went to the lead with two laps to go. For a time there the highly rated Muscle Mountain sat parked and looked to be danger but his challenge ended as they turned for the home and it was a two horse war between Sundees Son and Mataderos.
The Dunns also nabbed fourth with Chief Of Staff, with Bolt For Brilliance third.
Before the Dunn’s Dominion domination it was another good day for the Mark Purdon – Hayden Cullen training team, with Purdon having three wins with Oscar Bonavena, It’s All About Faith and Always Have faith.
Driven by Natalie Rasmussen Samhara also won for the stable, who had the trifecta in race 8 along with Pace N Pride (Purdon) and Riveered (Blair Orange).
Purdon had six driving successes on Cup Day, and co-trained five of the winners.
Yesterday at Ashburton Queen of Diamonds (Rasmussen) and Chambray (Purdon) quinellaed the Keith and Betty Hood Memorial pace, and Rasmussen also won with hotpot True Fantasy in the Dunstan Horsefeeds Sires’ Stakes Heat.