Wave Runner keeps on producing

By Jonny Turner

Wave Runner already had an outstanding record at stud, but it got even better when Sand Wave powered to victory on Invercargill Cup Day.

Sand Wave (Somebeachsomewhere-Wave Runner-Live Or Die) came out of his victory in Saturday’s Southern Supremacy Stakes heat in much the same position.

Connections of Sand Wave
Photo | Monica Torrento

The three-year-old was already a smart horse, but looked to take his game up a level when producing brilliant closing sectionals to win.

Sand Wave is the eighth foal and seventh winner from Wave Runner, who was raced by Mike Atkins and Greg Adlam.

The pair have bred the last five foals from the eight-race winning mare after acquiring her from her breeders and former owners, the Cummings family at Tuapeka Lodge.

After taking in Sand Wave’s win on Trackside, Greg Adlam remarked to Atkins he thought he saw a bit of his mother in the pacer as he powered to the line.

“It was a great win, I just said to Mike I was sitting on the deck the other night watching the old Wave Runner races and when Sand Wave picked up that win you could see, that was his mother at her best.”

Adlam and Atkins bred Sandwave and offered him at the National Yearling Sales where he didn’t sell

Adlam’s brother Simon then prepared the colt for racing before he was sold to clients of Nathan Williamson.

“He was passed in and that suited us fine, we were happy to sell him but he didn’t meet the reserve, we weren’t going to give him away.”
“So we developed a plan to Simon which was to get him going and if he was good enough – which we thought he would be from the breed – then an offer would emerge for him.”

Adlam and Atkins have Wavethebill (Net Ten EOM-Wave Runner-Live Or Die) currently campaigning from Simon Adlam’s stable in Canterbury.

Wave Runner is 18 years old old now and still producing outstanding foals.

“She is 18 and she has been great, we raced her as well, we have known her since she was a three-year-old.”

“She is in foal again to Always B Miki.”

“She missed to Betting Line last year, but she has an Always B Miki yearling.”

“We have a two-year-old filly by Art Major as well.”

The Art Major filly is a full sister to Break Dance, which Adlam and Atkins also raced on lease from Tuapeka Lodge.

The mare won five races for the pair including two feature mares events when campaigned from Amber Hoffman’s stable.