But friends say he has established a strong infrastructure in Sydney for Alana, who has her family close by her side helping her through the birth.
"Alana has her mum there and her family around her. She has everything she needs in Sydney," said a close pal.
"Sonny has his Hamilton pad ready to go. It's all set up and ready for baby. There's everything there for his new family.
"He's got things child-proofed. Alana and the baby could come over as soon as she's ready to fly.
"But he has a lot on the go at the moment, and will need to be away from home occasionally, so it makes sense for Alana to stay in Sydney with her mum and her support crew with the newborn until things are more settled."
WAGS race to Addington
Wearing a sleek, black pencil dress and matching fascinator, Gemma Flynn put her athletic body on display and led the rugby WAG contingent to the trots this week.
The talk was all about weddings and babies, I'm told, with Daisy Aitken counting down the days to her nuptials to Israel Dagg. Amber Vito, wife of Victor, is heavily pregnant with the couple's first child, while Katie Menzies is expecting a baby with her partner, Ben Smith, who is said to be very excited about becoming a new dad.
Perhaps he can get some tips from Conrad Smith who raced home from the AB tour to be with his family on a sudden medical emergency. His 3-month-old bubs is fine, apparently.
Fatima Antaqui, Julian Savea's fiancee, is looking forward to her man coming home so they can go on holiday. She's reportedly building her dream wedding album.
The girls have bonded while the men are away.
Flynn has made herself at home at Richie's house and is living in domestic bliss.
"Man, Richie's got a sweet pad down there," said a pal. "Passing the time for Gem while Richie's been away has been smooth sailing so far because we've all been taking turns staying with her in Christchurch to keep her company. But she's looking forward to him coming home so that they can enjoy the summer together."
Horror move for Hutchison
Anna Hutchison has been cast in the lead on Wrecker, a US film in a truck-horror-thriller genre. The Michael Bafaro-directed movie is about two girls on a road trip to a music festival in the desert who encounter a sadistic, psychotic trucker.
Hutchison, who stars alongside Drea Whitburn, is thrilled with the role, her agent told The Diary.
TV host hits bum note
Television presenter and former cricket international Mark Richardson hit a bum note emulating the now-famous Kim Kardashian nude magazine cover. Wearing only a watch, a tan line and a lot of chutzpah, The Crowd Goes Wild co-host proved one can never do too many squats.
"Frankly, he's disappointed his bum looks so flabby," said co-star Andrew Mulligan who was quick to share the image on the show's Facebook page. "That pic of him was actually taken a couple of years ago and he says his bum is firmer now. But his arse is so white. He's just different shades of white. The image is imbedded. It can't be unseen."
In more racing news ...
She's not exactly known as a style icon but actress Keisha Castle-Hughes will don her glad rags and hat to judge Fashion in the Fields at Riccarton racecourse today. The Canterbury Jockey Club has flown the actress to the Garden City as a special guest of the Christchurch Casino New Zealand Cup.
She has no ties to Christchurch; she was raised in Glen Innes. But there's no denying Castle-Hughes' celebrity pulling power is back on the rise with bit-part roles in hit international TV shows The Walking Dead and Game of Thrones, which she described as "like nothing I've worked on before". That's an understatement.
"It's a huge production. There are so many people to get to know. It's such a brilliant experience," Castle-Hughes told TVNZ's Breakfast show yesterday.
PS: Fuggedabout acting. Temuera Morrison is launching a covers album at the end of the month of "sing-along classics that he grew up with", his label Sony announced in a release. Think Elvis and The Beatles. Probably Ten Guitars, too. They say his rendition of the Maori love song E Ipo is particularly special because it features Kiwi country singer Dennis Marsh. Pressie for the Chrissie stocking?
