Sue Dreamer now a perfect 7 for Cummings family

Grass track harness racing has a knack for throwing up plenty of surprises, and that’s exactly what happened for the Cummings family when their homebred filly Sonadora (Betting Line) cleared maidens in her first attempt at yesterday’s (Apr. 10) Banks Peninsula Trotting Club meeting.

The Robert and Jenna Dunn trained three-year-old filly was given a gorgeous trip in transit by her pilot and stable junior, Korbyn Newman, having punched through from a second-row barrier draw to find a nice position in the running line.

Things may have been cushy early, but it was soon to turn into an all-out war when the daughter of Betting Line was asked for the ultimate effort being hooked out four wide from the 800m, hitting the front with the length of the long Motukarara straight still to run.

The pair fought on bravely and with no gaps appearing for race favourite, Light Up The Fire, Sonadora and Newman took full advantage in delivering a gritty win on debut, much to the delight of the Cummings family who were on hand to bask in the glory.

“We are thrilled to bits. We weren’t expecting it, so we are really happy,” said Shirley Cummings, co-breeder and owner speaking to Harness Racing Unhinged after the race.

The winning margin was a half-length, with the mile rate for the 2000m mobile being paced in 2:07.9 and the last half run in 62.1. The lush autumn track had the runners on weary legs at the finish, but Sonadora just kept on trucking.

“We were on tired legs, it was only her first start, but she stuck to her guns well,” said Korbyn Newman.

“It was a really nice effort. She’s a giant and a bit funny, and she has her tricks here and there. But the more she does, the better she is getting,” he said.

Sonadora is out of the Dream Away mare, Sue Dreamer who as alluded too has been a brilliant producer for Martin and Shirley Cummings having now produced a perfect seven foals of racing age for seven winners.

Among them include the smart pacers, Lovetodream (Bettor’s Delight) who won eight including a Blenheim Cup and Gran Chico (Bettor’s Delight) who won the Sires Stakes Sophomore Classic in 2019 before being sold for big money to Perth interests.

Sue Dreamer was a smart pacer in her own right as the winner of six races which included the Group Three North Island Breeders Stakes in 2007.

“Every progeny out of the mare has won a race and has gone on to do good things, so we are thrilled with that.

“We love breeding and having them at home, from inception to having them leave and go to the trainers. It’s brilliant,” she said.

The family was developed by Shirley Cummings late father Delvan Rickerby, tracing back to his association with the great grand dam of Sonadora, Sue Adios in the 70’s.

Fittingly, Sonadora and Newman raced in Rickerby’s colours that until recently seasons had not been worn since the early 1980’s.

The Cummings family were captured celebrating in style in the Motukarara grandstand with plenty of exuberance on display.

SONADORA REPLAY

“Why have a horse if you don’t do that,” laughed Cummings.

“We do get excited. Have horse, will travel, get excited. We have the family in this one so it’s wonderful. It was mentioned that I need to get one of these grandkids into the kid’s carts,” she said.

“The grand children love it and I’m trying to instill it into the next generation because who is going to take my broodmares over,” she said.

Cummings has her own history of having been in a cart from a young age having taken an interest in the sport through her father. At just eight years old she was first allowed in the cart to handle a small jog team and was 10 years old when given the reins for fast work.

This led to a fleeting career as one of the pioneer female drivers in our industry, racking up a UDR that even Natalie Rassmussen couldn’t match. If it weren’t for being nosed out by a Derek Jones trained runner driven by Denise Nyan she would have a 50% win record from 8 race day drives!

Shirley was happy to leave the driving behind as a hobby, however she would only be to happy to see the current state of affairs in the female driving ranks which were on full display at the final grass track meeting of the season.

Sam Ottley reined home two trotting winners while Kerryn Tomlinson was a winner on the day also behind Arizona Wildcat.

And while it was the Cummings filly stealing headlines, much was made about two more ‘fillies’ having their first starts on the grass with stable junior, Riley Harrison and Victorian import, Shannon O’Sullivan taking the reins behind Dunn trained runners in the junior driver event on the programme.

“It was good, once I got away, I felt a bit better about everything and got a good start there and it was a nice pace being set,” said Harrison about her first race day drive in which she secured a third placing behind On Report (He’s Watching).

O’Sullivan who is no stranger to driving success as an accomplished driver in her own country was all smiles about her first grass track experience after accompanying the Off And Pacing owned pacer, Maybe (Bettor’s Delight) into 7th.

“It was a bit bumpy, but the main thing was we got around safely, and everything went ok,” she said.

For complete Motukarara race results, click here.

by Brad Reid, for Harnesslink