Trots Centre: No stalling for Abby as she readies for driving debut

A new chapter will dawn in the Sanderson family’s flourishing Charlton stable with daughter Abby to make her driving debut at Stawell on Friday.

The 16-year-old will steer Timely Sovereign in the Gatway Security Claiming Pace and, her personal favourite, Sea Hawke in the Rachel McGrath (Gratton) Memorial Pace, both for dad and trainer Shane.

Following in the footsteps of big brother Ryan, who turns 18 today and has already notched 48 wins from 391 starts, Abby joined SEN Track’s Trots Life and told host Toby McKinnon she will “be nervous” ahead of her debut, “but I don’t think I’ll be as nervous as (mum Naomi) will be”.

“She’ll be all right, bit of nerves will kick in though,” she said.

_{Picture: Kieran Iles, Bendigo Advertiser}

Having driven pony trots in New South Wales and Queensland, Abby acquired her B grade driver’s licence last week, only 11 days after her 16^th birthday.

“I think you’d have a better chance holding the tide back than stopping Abby from getting her licence, she’s been on to it every day as soon as she turned 16,” Shane told SEN Track. “Didn’t really have much say in it.

“She was wanting her licence now and that was the way it panned out.

“I’ll be excited for her. Just keep my fingers crossed. She’s certainly very keen and enthusiastic, she can learn the ropes and improve along the way and her keenness will certainly put her in good stead.”

Having grown up in the game, Abby said she’d “always loved the horses”.

“When I was young, I’d go and help out Dad, take my rake out to the stables. I always wanted to be in horses, whether it was training or driving,” she said.

And with Shane Sanderson’s stable blossoming since crossing to Charlton and Ryan knocking up winners, she’s optimistic there will be plenty of driving opportunities.

“Ryan’s getting a lot of drives and dad has a few more horses,” she said. “(Ryan’s) a good driver, he’s getting a lot more outside drives. Some of them are in Dad’s races. So it will be good to have two drivers and if he needs a claim and Ryan’s not available (I'm ready).”

She’ll kick off with eight-year-old Timely Sovereign in today’s claimer, with the winner of 14 of his 128 starts having his first start for Sanderson since venturing south from Leon Jurd’s stable.

Abby will then follow up with Sea Hawke, a five-year-old who’s owned by the family and is her “favourite”.

“Dad did nominate him for me to try and get him in there, Timely Sovereign just ended up getting in first,” she said.

“He’s got character, he’s a cool horse to have around, he’s nice, he’s easy enough for me to drive.”