NZ Horse of the Year on comeback trail

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Reigning New Zealand Harness Racing Horse of the Year, Sundees Son (Majestic Son) is progressing well from a brief rehab stint that saw the champion trotter undergo his routine annual check-up in Matamata.

The 11-time Group One winner wasn’t his spritely self after a long campaign ended in a third placing in the Rowe Cup at Alexandra Park back in May.

Owner and breeder, Colin Hair, reports that he has bounced back well and any concerns around a potential injury were allayed as a result of the scintigraphy procedure.

“Sunny has dealt with a few issues in his stifles, nothing major, just wear and tear that you would expect of a horse who runs his times and clocked a few miles as he has,” said Hair.

“This was the third year in a row we have had him scoped up North and has just become part of his routine management and being proactive with a once-in-a-lifetime horse.

“He spent a further month up there in Matamata on a water jogger before coming home and I think it’s safe to say he was glad to get back to his familiar surroundings. He was very cuddly and happy to see us all which was great, and we are looking forward to a new campaign with him in the late Spring,” he said.

That will likely see him miss the race he has made his own over the last few years with the Ordeal Cup likely to be missed in favour of some targets later in the year.

“Sunny has won the Ordeal Cup three times now and while it is a fantastic trophy to have around the house, we want to be patient with him and target races like the Dominion Handicap and the New Zealand Trotting Free For All which has been moved to December.

“Sunny doesn’t jog so to speak but he is back at the beach with his workload gradually increasing by the day. It is more likely we would see him back at the races around October for something like the Canterbury Park Trotting Cup,” he said.

A win in the Group Three feature at Addington on the 16^th of October would make Sundees Son the only trotter to have won the time-honored race on three occasions.

About Now, Basil Dean, Dr Hook, Harbour Light, Master Lavros, and Tussle are the only others to have won the feature twice.

Sundees Son earnt the unique distinction of becoming the first New Zealand bred horse to win a million dollars in stakes earnt exclusively racing in his homeland.

Hair and his wife Nancy have always been steadfast in the fact the horse would only leaves these shores should his regular minder, Craig Edmonds, and pilot John Dunn be able to make the trip.

Covid restrictions have made that incredibly difficult in recent seasons but they are looking to campaign the son of Majestic Son in Australia when the time is right.

While nothing is set in stone, it is unlikely Australasian trotting fans will get to see the champion trotter line up in the Interdominions to be held in Victoria, beginning in late November.

“I will speak to the trainers in more detail about any Australian campaign but at this stage it is unlikely. We have a Group One in early December (NZ Trotting FFA) on our doorstep and while he has always been a good traveler, at this stage of his career, three heats in a week are something he could do without.

“He puts so much into his races and there are only so many miles left on the clock. We want to maximise the latter part of his career the best we can so I will talk to Robert, Jenna, and Johnny and be guided by them, but the Great Southern Star could be more realistic,” he said.

It would be fantastic for trotting fans in the Southern Hemisphere and in particular Australia to get to see the trotting sensation in the flesh. Some high-profile owners have been on social media welcoming the opportunity to test their Australian-based trotters against the champ.

It might be a case of being careful of what you wish for as I don’t think they will have seen anything like it once he hits full flight.

This article was featured in our latest edition of Harnesslink Insider. To make sure you don’t miss out on weekly Insider content from around the world, subscribe here: Harnesslink Insider

by Brad Reid, for Harnesslink