Associated with 48 wins, but who is she?

HER name has been in the winners’ circle 48 times but she remains relatively unknown.

In fact, her sister’s son is engaged in a Group One tonight, but again little is known about her.

The origin of a successful trotting moniker, Sonoko had a career restricted to 18 starts, which netted four low grade wins and four placings.

Pacing-bred, the mare was trained by Ross Graham, with the astute horseman and his brother, Leigh, continuing the family line.

“My Uncle had her and said I can’t get it to pace properly, I think we’re wasting our time so Ian Devitt, who had leased another horse to me, said ‘I have one here at your Uncle’s if you want to have a go at it’, so I did,” Graham recalled.

“I put hopples on it for a few weeks and thought this is hard work, then one day I took the hopples off and thought gee this thing can trot.

“A month to six weeks later she qualified as a trotter and won three of her first five starts.

“She ended up breaking down and I think the leg injuries were mainly caused by stresses of trying to get her to pace.”

As for the continuation of the Sonoko ‘brand’, Graham’s response is simple.

“We just followed on with it for no particular reason,” Graham said. “Just being lazy I suppose!”

‘In a few hours Nephew Of Sonoko will contest the Inter Dominion Trotters’ Final at Tabcorp Park Melton, with Graham quietly confident the gelding can “surprise a few”.

Despite winning a second round heat, Nephew Of Sonoko is a $51 TAB Fixed Odds outsider from barrier five.

“He went well on the first night,” Graham said. “If you look at the card and note the lead times it will open your eyes up as to how well he went.

“He was super on the second night and I don’t know if he was tired on the third night, but he didn’t go as well put it that way.

“This week he has freshened up well and doesn’t seem like a tired horse…I expect a good effort from him.”

By Danny Bouchea, the five-year-old is from the simply-named Sister Of Sonoko!

The clan also includes Brother Of Sonoko, Sun Of Sonoko and Sonokos Son.