René and Darlene Hunderup are two of the more recognizable people in Ontario Thoroughbred breeding through the last 30 years. At their Norse Ridge Farm in King City, ON, they have stood many stallions and housed broodmares for some of the biggest owners in Canada, from Eugene Melnyk to Ivan Dalos.
They have also had their own small racing and breeding operation, which started predominantly with Quarter Horses. The couple worked hard at building up the Quarter Horse racing business with a large number of foals and stallions.
A few years ago they decided to focus more on racing Thoroughbreds and hired multiple champion trainer Mark Casse. In 2018 they celebrated a stakes win with My Silencer, who won the Frost King Stakes in his career debut for Casse. In 2020, their homebred Not So Quiet won the first of four stakes races and has earned over $450,000.
But on July 24 the Hunderups were left hoarse when their tall and leggy gelding SIR FOR SURE roared to victory in the $150,000 Plate Trial and landed on the short list of Queen’s Plate contenders come Aug. 21.
When asked what Sir for Sure’s win meant to them, Rene was almost speechless. “I don’t have the answer for that, this is so special. I am thankful to Mark Casse for the operation and to my wife for breeding this incredible beast.”
Sir for Sure, a son of the pensioned Adena Springs stallion Sligo Bay (Ire) and a half-brother to My Silencer, both being from the Hunderup-bred Serena’s Rose, stayed in mid-pack early in the 1 1/8 mile Trial under jockey Declan Carroll. The pace was honest and set by the lightly-raced Causin’ Mayhem, a Chiefswood Stables colt trained by Todd Pletcher. Sir for Sure then started up a rally around the last turn, sideswiped his stablemate Hall of Dreams as he powered by, and then held off that unlucky rival to win by two lengths.
Hall of Dreams, trained by Casse for a group including Gary Barber, was toe lengths clear of Causin’ Mayhem.
Duke of Love (Cupid) had a disastrous stretch run as he lacked room, steadied and checked, and he had to settle for fourth for the MyRacehorse syndicate and trainer Josie Carroll. Disappointing in the race was favoured The Minkster, who had never lost before. The colt was rank early and chased the pace before fading. Sam-Son Farms Dancin in Da’Nile was similarly quite sharp and he attended the early lead before tiring. All horses in the Trial carried the 126 pounds that they will carry in the Plate.
Sir for Sure’s time of 1:50.62 was good for an 83 Beyer Figure.
The gelding had finished second in his debut last fall, the Frost King Stakes, and then fourth against maidens in December. His maiden win at Gulfstream Park on Feb. 5 on Tapeta was impressive as he rallied 5 wide off the turn. But when the gelding railed in the seven-furlong Queenston Stakes four months later, there was some cause for concern for the Hunderups.
“The distance was too short and he was a bit nervous before the race. He was better today and he loved the distance.”
Sir for Sure’s dam Serena’s Rose was a solid runner who liked longer distances and had a career best Beyer Figure of 82. She is a daughter of Ivan Dalos’ My Way Only (Septieme Ciel), who was a two-time winner in three races but did not have many foals at stud.
Second dam QUAT, a winner, produced two other winners including Quarter Horse Quat R Mile.
With Sir for Sure’s Trial win and Moira’s big Oaks score, the Plate picture is interesting.
Rafael Hernandez, who rode Moira, also rode RONDURE to a big score in the Grade 3 Marine Stakes with a large 96 Beyer Figure. Rondure by-passed the Trial.
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