By MICHAEL GUERIN
New Zealand's champion 3-year-old trotter Sundon's Luck has suffered a shock defeat on his way to the Victoria Derby.
The multiple group one winner was thrashed in the second heat of the Trotters Derby at Ballarat on Thursday night.
Sundon's Luck started a $1.30 favourite but finished second, 18 metres behind winner Sunana Asset, who rated 2:3.7 for the 2200m mobile.
The winner is a New Zealand-bred son of Sundon and Chiquita Dee and while having only his third start, he has already acquired a huge reputation in Victoria.
Sunana Asset started second favourite on debut when he galloped in the Holmfield at Moonee Valley two weeks ago, a race won by Sundon's Luck.
But the Australian trotted faultlessly on Thursday night to lead throughout.
Sundon's Luck's trainer-driver Kevin Townley moved the favourite around to sit parked at the 1000m mark.
But it was obvious at the 400m mark that Sundon's Luck would not catch the winner.
He did, however, finish 33 metres in front of the third-placed runner, Bunty's Nippa, trained by former Kumeu horseman Alan Dunsmuir.
While Sundon's Luck was easily beaten, Townley was not too downhearted.
"He will improve with that because he had had a pretty easy time since winning the Holmfield," said the Canterbury trainer.
"But the winner is obviously a very talented horse."
The A$50,000 Victoria Trotting Derby will be run at Maryborough next Sunday as the centre piece of an all-trotting programme during which northern trotter T K Victor will take on Australia's best juveniles in the Redwood Classic.
Racing: Stumble on road to derby
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