Anderson gets his first win

“I can’t believe it really. I wasn’t sure whether I got there,” was the reaction of harness racing junior driver Daniel Anderson who won his first race driving Superfastsuperstar (Superfast Stuart) at Ascot Park today (Nov 23).

The four year old stepped well and trailed Tease My Tartan.

“Once I got the trail I thought he’d stick on. He does struggle getting round the bends at Invercargill but he got round okay and fought hard up the straight.”

Anderson drove out the gelding to beat favourite Hot Saucy Betty (Love You) by a head with Tease My Tartan (Great Success) a half a neck back in third.

“The other drivers told me I got it but I just wanted it confirmed.”

SUPERFASTSUPERSTAR REPLAY

Anderson grew up around horses helping his galloping trainer grandfather Jack Gordon and his Aunty Jo Gordon both of whom trained at Ascot Park.

“I was too heavy to be a jockey. I finished school not knowing what to do and ended up getting a job at Kirk Larsen’s for three and a half years. Kirk was awesome to work for and he taught me how to drive. Now I’m working for Murray Brown.”

Superfastsuperstar is trained by Alan Shaw and was one of the first horses Anderson got to drive on a regular basis.

“Alan was trying to get the horse qualified but it kept galloping at the trials. He asked me if I wanted a crack at driving him and I managed to qualify him and he’s left me on ever since.” 

Daniel’s father and sponsor Brad Anderson from Hyde Landscaping is well known for his hospitality, but he’s reported to be out of town at the moment.

“The worse think for him is that he’s left his bar open at home with me in charge so we might have a couple of waters, but I’ve got work tomorrow.” 

Superfastsuperstar was bred by Shaw and is out of Anothersuperstar. 

“As a colt he was a handful so I sent him up to Macca Lodge. I told Brent (McIntyre) not to muck around and to geld him. He’s got no vices and is a real gentleman. He’s a big horse so he’s needed time to grow into his skin.” said Shaw who’s been training since 1966.

He says Superfastsuperstar doesn’t comply with the conventional 40 minutes of jogging that most horses do.

“I jog him for ten minutes and he comes around to the gate and starts stepping out. I just hang on. I give him another five or ten minutes and that’s it.”

It’s a family that Shaw has bred from for a long time and the best was Superstaragogo which won eight races and raced in the Rowe Cup and the Interdominions.

“She qualified for the final (Interdominions) but we had to pull her out because she blew a hind suspensory.”

As a broodmare Superstaragogo left Superstarourwishes (Grant Our Wishes) which won seven races and Stargo Whiz (Gee Wizz II) who’s the mother of Anothersuperstar (Now Another Look) which won ten races. 

For complete race results, click here.

by Bruce Stewart, for Harnesslink