Ryan ready to do Australia proud

Victorian harness racing young gun Ryan Sanderson isn’t daunted that he’s regarded a longshot at his international harness racing debut in the Prix Des Rencontres Internationales at Vincennes, France, on Saturday morning (Dec 2, Australian time).

Twenty-year-old Sanderson, who has driven 287 winners in his career, was selected to represent Australia in the under-26 event, and has spent the past week under the tutelage of world-renowned horseman Jean-Michel Bazire at the Domaine de Grosbois training centre, southeast of Paris.

The respected young Victorian reinsman will partner the Matthieu Lebrec-trained Fan De Phyt’s in the 2100m event, which is scheduled to run at 8.09am AEDT.

Sanderson claimed the South Australian Trotters Cup a month ago on Blue Coman (Monkey Bones) at odds of 16/1 – and will likely need to overcome a similar assessment by punters in tomorrow’s event.

Sanderson, the son of Victorian trainer Shane Sanderson, has thrived on an “awesome” French experience, in an industry based entirely on the trotting gait.

“It’s been absolutely amazing. The differences between home and here have been incredible – just the way they work the horses here, how they gear them up and prepare them, all sorts of little things,” he said.

“The French horses themselves are so different, just so calm and professional, compared to horses at home. They bring them out, harness them up and the horses just stand there – but once you pick up the reins, they’re all business. That’s been pretty amazing,” he said.

Sanderson admits to having very limited French language skills, but clearly hasn’t let that hamper him soaking up a bit of French culture – and putting in some intense carb-loading at a pre-race traditional French dinner with his Le Trot hosts in the lead up to the big event.

“It’s a great community and industry here, and everyone has been so welcoming. I’m really looking forward to the race, but I’ll just be trying to stay out of trouble, not hit any wheels and keep my horse trotting and hopefully do our best,” he said.

Coverage of Saturday morning’s Vincennes meeting will begin from 6.30am AEDT at TrotsVision.com.au, with thanks to Sky Racing.

by Terry Gange, for Harnesslink