Talented young reinsman Ryan Sanderson chalked up his first Group 1 success in style, winning the state’s oldest classic race when he partnered Fox Dan to a stunning victory in the Woodlands Stud Victoria Derby Final at Melton.
Sanderson was forced to get busy early on the $1.85 favorite from the pole when Final Deadline attempted to spear across from its wide draw and the pair engaged in a spirited battle before Fox Dan prevailed.
The Emma Stewart-trained Fox Dan was again challenged when Sao Paulo Simba worked its way to the front with two laps to travel.
Sanderson managed to ease off the pegs around the home turn when the leader was headed and Fox Dan sprinted past stablemate Captain Perfect in a couple of bounds to score by three metres in a mile rate of 1:54.9.
“I’m lost for words, that was amazing,” Sanderson said after the race.
“I was a little bit worried with that lead time as he had to burn pretty hard,” he said.
“I was happy to take a sit on Sao Paulo Simba and I was confident he would take me where I needed to be, but obviously I had to get out a bit early.
It’s a credit to Emma and Clayton with this horse, as he had to burn so hard early, but as soon as I pulled him out he never looked like getting beaten.”
