Ryan Sanderson has experienced some incredible highs during his short time in harness racing, but remains desperate to feel what it’s like to achieve the ultimate success.
And that’s driving a Group 1 winner.
The 22-year-old reinsman moved from Queensland to Victoria with his trots-mad family in 2021, and has won big country features, a heat of the Inter Dominion series and the inaugural Young Guns crown, and represented Australia in France in a remarkable start to his career.
He’s collected 498 winners along the way, but is yet to succeed at the elite level.
He’s hoping that will change on Saturday night at Melton Entertainment Park when he gets three cracks at claiming his very first Group 1 as a new-found stable driver for the powerful Emma Stewart camp.
The most notable of his chances is the favourite Fox Dan in the time-honoured Woodlands Stud Victoria Derby Final. He will also partner Bay Of Biscay in the Sportsbet Victoria Cup and Let Her Roll in the Pryde’s EasiFeed Victoria Oaks Final.
“I feel like that’s what everyone strives to do, get a Group 1 winner,” Sanderson said. “I’ve been pretty lucky that Emma and (co-trainer and partner) Clayton (Tonkin) have given me a good go, and I’ve got a chance to try and win one.”
Sanderson partnered Fox Dan to second in the world’s richest harness race, the Eureka, in September and to his impressive victory in a heat of the Derby last weekend.
The prized barrier one draw gives the young driver plenty of options and a positive mindset heading into this Saturday night’s assignment.
“I’ve got good confidence that he’ll run the distance (2760m) and I’m pretty excited about his chances,” he said. “It’s a bloody great field, I feel like any horse can win with the right run, but he’s probably drawn to benefit.”
Sanderson is the son of Group 1 trainer Shane and brother of reinswoman Abby, who has booted home 87 winners so far in her career.
