Sundon best N.Z. juvenile trotter ever — trainer

Press, 19 July 1988, Page 34

Sundon best N.Z. juvenile trotter ever — trainer

Special correspondent Auckland Fred Fletcher believes Sundon is the best two-year-old trotter seen in New Zealand and it is not hard to see why after they teamed for a very easy win in the Trotting Stakes at the Franklin Trotting Club’s meeting at Alexandra Park on Friday evening.

Fletcher, who trains the colt in partnership with his son-in-law, Mark Smolensk!, has had vast experience over the years training trotters. “I haven’t seen any better,” he said. “Right from the time he was broken in I have thought he’s the best young trotter I’ve had and he has proved how good he is.” Those who are not yet

convinced Sundon has a great future ahead of him should only look at his record to date — 11 starts for 11 wins. On Friday in the $16,000 John F. Jones Two-Year-Old Trotting Stakes, which was a nontotalisator event, Sundon was not asked for an effort as he cruised home by 11 lengths from Corsica Pride. Fletcher said after the race that he had never used the “whip” on Sundon. “I haven’t had to resort to using the whip,” he said. “Nothing has really got close enough to force me to.” Fletcher’s wife, Faye, said that her husband had never pulled Sundon’s ear-plugs either.

Sundon is owned by Mr Roy McKenzie, of Wellington. Mr McKenzie is proprietor of Roydon Lodge Stud, Templeton. According to Fletcher, Sundon will be spelled for a month before resuming light training at his Weedons stable. “He’ll have a month off, now,” he said. “Then he’ll start four months of jogging. I hope to have him ready to" race around Christmas or New Year.” Sundon, in maintaining his unbeaten run, carried his stake-earnings to $34,810. Corsica Pride, driven by Mark Purdon, finished second a length and a quarter in front of Idle Pride, while Chernobyl was eight lengths back in fourth.