Abby’s hoping it’s her time to shine

Abby Sanderson is hoping she will be the one in the harness racing spotlight this Saturday night.

The 18-year-old reinswoman qualified Sahara Tiger (Sweet Lou) through the heats of last year’s Tasco Petroleum Mildura Pacing Cup before her brother Ryan stole the thunder when he partnered the horse to a longshot victory in the Group 3 final four days later.

The Sandersons’ father, top trainer Shane, this year has exciting stablemate Dangerous in contention for the big country feature and will trust his daughter to bring home the silverware on the weekend.

With Ryan still recovering and without clearance following a recent car accident, Abby took charge of Dangerous on Tuesday night and had little trouble guiding the sometimes bad-mannered son of Sweet Lou to victory in the opening qualifier of the series.

He eventually worked to the front from barrier three, and despite some pressure outside him through various stages of the race, was able to cruise down to win by more than 6m on the line.

“I’ve got a 100 per cent strike rate on him and I’d like to keep it that way – I should just get off now,” Abby, a previous winner with Dangerous back in January 2023, joked.

“Ryan was more than happy to hand the reins over to me because he probably just wasn’t getting along with him.

“No one was really getting along with him anyway – I don’t think it was a fault of Ryan – but he was happy to let me have a drive on him again because he was out due to circumstances.

“He did everything right for me, so I’ll rub it in Ryan’s face that it must be my hands,” she said with a laugh.

“I just think he had a good day.”

Abby looks back fondly on the family’s success in last year’s Mildura Pacing Cup, knowing she played a big part in Sahara Tiger’s shock triumph at north of 100-1.

“It was a massive thrill,” she said.

“It was sort of a team effort. Mum at home, I qualified him, Dad trains him and Ryan drove him. It was a bit of everyone that got that win, so it was pretty special.”

Another front row draw gives Dangerous a good chance in Saturday night’s final and Abby believes her charge has what it takes to get the job done.

“He’s definitely a winning chance,” she said.

“His manners were superb on Tuesday. Hopefully he can repeat them, and if he behaves and stuff hopefully he’ll be in it with a good chance.

“He’s definitely got the wow-factor about him – he’s pretty good when he’s good.

“We’ll need a bit of luck, but the front row probably helps a bit.”

Dangerous will leave from gate four on Saturday night, with fellow heat winner Little Louie holding the inside barrier one. They are the two clear favourites on the TAB market, with Earl Of Pembroke, Serg Blanco, Western Sonador, Kowalski Analysis and Helluva among the other leading fancies.

The Club Merbein Mildura Trotters Cup is the other big feature on Saturday night’s card, with Central Victorian Trotting Championship winner Kyvalley Heist (front), and Ararat and Horsham Cup victor Mercenary (30m) among the leading contenders in the field of seven.

For complete race entries, click here.

by Tim O’Connor, for HRV