Top young Victorian driver Ryan Sanderson has landed the most wanted drive in harness racing.
The Murchison-based reinsman will partner TAB Eureka and Chariots Of Fire winner Bay Of Biscay for the first time in Saturday night’s Smoken Up Sprint at Melton and the $250,000 Group 1 Victoria Cup a week later.
He replaces another young gun, NSW-based Cam Hart, who is committed to champion stayer Swayzee in the Victoria Cup.
“This is amazing,” Sanderson said. “The opportunities I’ve had this season are the stuff all drivers dream of when they’re starting out.”
It continues a breakthrough season for the 22-year-old Sanderson, who already has 91 wins, is on target to smash his personal best of 108 wins in a season, and snared the drive on Fox Dan when second in the world’s richest harness race, last month’s $2.1mil TAB Eureka.
Ironically, it was Bay Of Biscay who beat Fox Dan in the Eureka.
“Just driving in the Eureka was a huge thrill, but to finish second puts it up with my biggest thrills in the game,” he said.
“It’s right there with winning a heat of the (2024) Inter Dominion on Dangerous, which was extra special given he’s a family horse and trained by Dad (Shane).
“Getting a chance to drive in the Victoria Cup is up with anything. It’s a race with such history and has been won by the best of the best. It’s a race you grow up dreaming about being part of one day.”
Ironically, Sanderson will drive against Dangerous in the Smoken Up Sprint. His sister, Abby, will drive the family star.
Although Sanderson is yet to drive Bay Of Biscay in a race, he did win a trial on the superstar four-year-old at Melton on June 10.
“I knew I was just warming the seat that day for Cam (Hart), but he’s the best horse I’ve driven, even if it was just a trial. He gave me the feel of what a star he is,” he said.
“To get to drive him at the races now is amazing.”
But Sanderson is realistic about his winning chances on Saturday night.
“It’s going to be very hard, especially now we’re drawn outside Leap To Fame. He’s a champion, I’m sure he’s one of the best we’ve ever seen,” he said.
“I’m just hoping for a good run this week and then to draw better than him the next week to give us a real chance to take it up to him in the Victoria Cup.”
Picking up the Bay Of Biscay drive continues the huge show of support for Sanderson from the powerhouse Emma Stewart and Clayton Tonkin stable in recent months.
“They’ve been a tremendous support,” he said. “Some of the horses I’ve got to drive, including Fox Dan for them in the Eureka, has been so exciting. Now Bay Of Biscay is the best of the lot.”
Sanderson has four other drives for the premier stable on Saturday, including all three Victoria Derby heats and nominal final favourite Let Her Roll ($2.10) in her qualifier of the Victoria Oaks.
He is reunited with Fox Dan ($5) in a very strong opening Derby heat (race), takes the reins on Storms Collide ($4.40) in heat two and partners the exciting Cigano ($3.30) in the third heat.
