Former ‘Charltonians’ chasing Cup glory

Hard working trainer Shane Sanderson and his wife Naomi made the big decision four years ago to move from Menangle to Victoria, with the aim of giving their two children more harness racing opportunities.

And now both Ryan, 21, and Abby, 19, are carving out successful driving careers in an industry that can be ruthless.

The siblings can be highly competitive whether it’s on or off the racetrack and we can expect it might go to a new level at tomorrow’s (March 16) Community Bank Charlton and District Cup day meeting.

Abby will take the drive on eye-catching entire Dangerous (Sweet Lou), while Ryan will team up with the consistent Catalpa Rescue (American Ideal) in the $25,000 Charlton Pacing Cup, a listed classic event to be run over the mini-marathon distance of 2570 metres.

Also on the nine-race program will be the Trotters Cup, of $20,000 and the Birchip Pacing Cup, of $10,000, the latter being abandoned last weekend when lightning and rain hit the Birchip township giving stewards no option but to abandon the feature.

“We’ve never won a Charlton Cup, but we’ve been lucky enough to win both the Mildura and Ouyen Pacing Cups twice,” Shane said.

“Abby scored on Dangerous in a Mildura Cup. She actually does all the work with the horse here at home and she will be so keen to do well at Charlton. Ryan won on Catalpa Rescue at Wagga a week ago and that was a really good performance.

“It’ll be exciting for all of us if one of them can get a win because we have three years of fond memories and good times in Charlton. We had our team at the Training Centre and it was a terrific time for our family.”

The Sandersons moved from Sydney in March 2021, after being lured by energetic and popular Charlton personality Joey Thompson. They have now moved to “Willowood”, a picturesque property at Murchinson, for the past 12 months.

The family offers agistment, spelling, rehabilitation and pre-training facilities including a state-of-the-art water walker. A noted client at the facility in the past was superstar galloper Black Caviar, a winner of 25 races from 25 starts, and who would be sent to Willowood for spelling and pre-training in the water walker.

While Sanderson wouldn’t be drawn into nominating his best Charlton Cup chance, he said either way his loyal band of Charlton district owners in Paul and Danny Lowry, Rob Hodge, John Wilson, Leon Hogan and Max Dillon would be overjoyed – they have ownership of both Dangerous and Catalpa Rescue.

The theme of tomorrow’s meeting is “We’re All Country” and patrons have been urged to pull out their jeans, akubras and boots for the day.

“We just want to celebrate all things country,” President Andrea O’Gorman said.

“And to make it worthwhile, one lucky racegoer who is judged as having a unique country twist in their choice of fashions will win $250.

“In addition there will be the punters club with Darren ‘Dazzler’ Carroll doing his best work, along with an on-course Local Legend Punting Contest conducted over five races.

“The Grand Classic sulky relay race promises to be great –Each team in the North Central Football League will have a representative three-member relay squad (two females/one male) and run one lap of the trotting track. It will be started from behind the mobile barrier and carries $1000.

“There’s been a fair bit of banter during the week!  It’s a great community day and we hope we’ll get a another big crowd of racing people and those just looking for a great day out.”

by Terry Gange, for Harnesslink