Teenager ready to shine again on big stage

Promising Victorian harness racing concession driver Abby Sanderson has her first official race night assignment at her old track Menangle tomorrow night (Feb. 11), but there’s little evidence of nerves – just excitement at the opportunities ahead.

The capable 17-year-old has 38 wins to her name but shot to prominence in the Caduceus 3yo Classic at Melton on January 28, when she handled the less fancied of the stable’s two runners in the feature but landed 100/1 shot Catalpa Rescue to a barnstorming win.

Abby has taken it all in her stride, though, and is keen only to do the best by the horse again on tomorrow night.

“It’s pretty exciting – I’ve only ever driven in trials at Menangle, and that was back when I was 16, at the very start of my career,” Abby said.

“Catalpa Rescue comes from out wide (barrier 7) so we will just have to see what’s going on early.  There’s a fair bit of speed inside him, so we’ll probably look to give him a sit again and see what he can do,” she said.

Both Catalpa Rescue and his super impressive stablemate Dangerous are owned by the same syndicate of owners based around Birchip, in the Victorian Mallee.

“I was just lucky to get the opportunity to drive Catalpa Rescue because we had the two in that age range,” Abby said.

“The owners were pretty devastated in the Caduceus when Dangerous (the odds-on favorite) galloped, but then halfway around the bend they saw Catalpa Rescue and they were super excited,” she laughed.

“I was so happy to win that for them. Dangerous has always been the more mature of the two but Catalpa Rescue is definitely getting better.  You can tell by the way he goes to the races now, he’s not as nervous. He’s in an open bridle and his racing pattern is much more relaxed.

“We still think he will be better in another 12 months, but hopefully both of them (Catalpa Rescue and Dangerous) get to have a look at Menangle and both go well, that’s the main thing.”

Abby and her brother Ryan, who drives Dangerous, will fly to Sydney tonight, where Shane has a team of seven based at Menangle for a short campaign.

“They’ve all settled in well—I really couldn’t be happier with them,” Shane said.

“Both Dangerous and Catalpa Rescue are jumping out of their skin so hopefully they do their best. It will be a good test because Sure Thing Captain from Queensland has been impressive in the way it’s been winning,” he said.

Sanderson, who was based at Menangle for several years before moving south to Charlton in Victoria, said the target for Dangerous and Catalpa Rescue was the New South Wales Derby in two weeks’ time.

“I’ve never had a horse in the Derby before and I don’t want to get ahead of myself, there’s a long way to go. But hopefully we can get there,” he said.

“Dangerous will go out for a spell after that but Catalpa Rescue is paid up for the Bathurst Gold Crown.”

Team Sanderson had two runners at Menangle last Tuesday with Sweet Agenda (Sweet Lou), driven by Cameron Hart, running second, while Ultimate Force (Alta Christiano) was fourth for junior driver Chloe Formosa.

“When we were training in Sydney, Cam worked and drove for us. I’m good mates with Chloe’s dad Michael and we actually bought Ultimate Force from them. Chloe used to drive the horse, so she knows him well and they ran 1.52 in the race.

“He will be better for that run and also goes around at Menangle this Saturday, while Sweet Agenda has her next start on Tuesday.

“I’m pretty busy with the horses, but it’s been great to catch-up with a few of our old friends.”

Hoofnote: Horsham-owned speedster Bondi Lockdown, now in the care of Belinda and Luke McCarthy, is a short-priced favorite in the Carnival of Miracles Pace at tomorrow night’s Menangle meeting, set down for 9.37pm.

The pacer caught the eye with a first-up second placing recently. Two of his main dangers are old sparring partners from Victoria in Crime Writer (Matthew Craven) and Torrid Saint (Daryl Douglas).

by Terry Gange, for Harnesslink