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Sundons Gift
Bought as a seven-start, unruly and non-placed maiden in New Zealand, Sundons Gift has gone on to become Australia’s premier trotter under the tutelage of Chris Lang.
Though not foolproof, the Sundon gelding possesses brilliance and stamina, being equally suited from in front as back in the field.
Sundons Gift has won 25 of his 40 starts on Australian soil so far, culminating with his end-to-end win in the 2009 Inter Dominion Grand Final at Moonee Valley in a new Australian record mile rate of 1:59.7 for the 2575 metre mobile trip.
Of his 25 successes, no less than 10 have been at Group level including the Group One 1D Final and the Group One Australian Trotting Grand Prix in 2007 and 2008.
With a bankroll of $515,089, Sundons Gift is the richest trotter currently racing in Australia and his effort of winning five of his 10 starts and $132,650 in stakes earned him the title of Australian Trotter of the Year in 2008.
In 2008/09 the gelding has already earned $290,626 and is well on his to way to winning back-to-back Horse of the Year titles.
Kyvalley Road
Purchased by Chris Lang as a yearling in New Zealand, Kyvalley Road was one of the best young trotters ever produced in this country.
The Lindy Lane gelding won seven out of nine starts as a two-year-old and seven from nine as a three-year-old and was adjudged Australian 2YO Trotter of the Year in 2002 and 3YO Trotter of the Year in 2003.
When he captured the Australasian Breeders Crown at Bendigo in August 2003 Kyvalley Road become the first trotter to win the Crown at both 2 and 3. Among his other major successes were the Victoria Trotters Derby, Tatlow Memorial, The Redwood and The Holmfield.
After his three-year-old campaign, Kyvalley Road’s career was interrupted by injury which prevented him from reaching his full potential and, despite being a limited training routine, he was still able to match it with the best square-gaiters in commission.
As an older horse he won such important events as the John Slack Memorial (Ballarat), Connelly Crystal Bucket (Echuca) and the Cobram Trotters Cup.
Kyvalley Road retired with the enviable record of 27 starts for 20 wins, four placings and $256,373 in stakes.
Skyvalley
A Breeders Crown champion and Australian record holder, the four-year-old Skyvalley is rated as one of the most exciting, young trotters in the country.
The bold striding son of Muscles Yankee and the Group winning mare Chiola’s Lass won twice and was placed in the Group 2 Tatlow as a two-year-old.
However, as a three-year-old, Skyvalley produced a string of outstanding performances at Group level culminating in his win in the $102,000 Breeders Crown final at Bendigo to announce himself on the big stage.
In winning the Group 1 final, Skyvalley became the fastest-ever Australian trotter over the 2100 metre journey, rating an unbelievable 1:58.9.
He won six races on end at one stage and qualified for the 2009 Inter Dominion Grand Final at Moonee Valley at four years by beating all but top Kiwi mare One Over Kenny in the semi-final.
A grand looking individual, Skyvalley would make an ideal sire prospect at the end of his racing days.
National Interest
Bred along pacing bloodlines, National Interest was the trail blazer for the Chris and Sharon team.
Racing from two to eight years, the Torado Hanover gelding was among the top bracket of trotters in the late 1990’s, capturing feature races in Victoria, South Australia and New South Wales.
His major successes were the V. L. Dullard Cup, Scotch Notch Memorial (twice), Inter Dominion Consolation, Kilmore Trotters Cup, SA Trotters Cup (twice), George Gath, SA Trotters Derby and the NSW Gold Coronet.
Noted for his big finishing ‘kick’, National Interest contested three Inter Dominion Championship Grand Finals and three Australasian Trotters Championships.
He won a total of 33 races – including 19 on metropolitan tracks - and $350,863 in stakes.
Jauriol
A chestnut daughter of Wagon Apollo, Jauriol took all before her in a brilliant juvenile career.
Jauriol had 10 starts as a two-year-old for seven wins and a third. Her prizemoney earnings of $83,060 set a record for a two-year-old trotting filly in Australia.
Feature events won by her at two were the Vicbred Super Sires, Tatlow Stakes and The Redwood.
Eight wins and five placings from 16 starts for $88,739 prizemoney indicated the supremacy Jauriol displayed in her three-year-old season. She completed the NSW Trotters Derby and Oaks double at Harold Park, won the Victoria Oaks at Moonee Valley and the Geelong and Shepparton Trotters Classics.
She was named Australian Trotter of the Year at both 2 and 3.
Jauriol later competed with distinction in open company, capturing such important events as the John Slack Memorial (Ballarat), Cobram Trotters Cup and the Matchmaker Mile (Maryborough) in a new lifetime mark of 1:59.9.
In all, Jauriol had 64 starts for 22 wins and 19 placings and $248,824 in stakes.
Galleons Sunset
Entrusted to Chris Lang in December 2007, the Kiwi gelding Galleons Sunset provided the Nagambie horseman with the first of his successive Inter Dominion triumphs at Moonee Valley in March 2008.
Driven by En Zedder Derek Balle, the six-year-old Sundon gelding led from start to finish in the $250,000 Grand Final as a 31 to 1 outsider.
Reeling off a 58.1 seconds last half, Galleons Sunset was untroubled to defeat Will Trapper, My Rhythm Of The Night, One Over Kenny, Whatsundermykilt, Viva La Fever and co.
Galleons Sunset was placed in Lang’s charge because of his grand record in the top trotting events in Australia and his preference to the Melbourne way of racing.
Countessa Hest
Purchased as a yearling in New Zealand, Countessa Hest was one of the most honest, consistent trotting mares raced in Victoria over the past decade.
Since debuting as a two-year-old in the 2003/04 season the daughter of Earl, part-owned by stable patron Duncan McPherson, was a winner every year until her retirement in June 2008.
She was the winner of 20 races and $137,858 in stakes including five at Moonee Valley, four at Harold Park, the St Arnaud Trotters Cup and HRI Gold Bracelet (Maryborough).
A dual Breeders Crown finalist, Countessa Hest also recorded notable placings in Group events such as the Victoria Oaks, Lightfoot Laurels, Freestone Cup and Trotters Free-for-all at the Menangle track opening.
She is positively tested in foal to Sundon and is one of a band of quality resident mares at Aldebaran Park.
Lester Scot
A former pacer from the Riverina district, Lester Scot became one of the leading trotters in Australia in the early 2000’s.
Trained by Sharon Lang, the gelding won his first race as a four-year-old and gradually worked his way through the classes to a TM5 mark.
He won four races at Moonee Valley as well as the Bendigo and Echuca Trotters Cups.
Lester Scot contested two Inter Dominion Grand Finals, finishing fifth in 2001 at Albion Park and unplaced at Moonee Valley in 2000, and was twice placed in ID heats.
A rugged stayer, Lester Scot won over the marathon 3020 metres trip at Moonee Valley.