SHANE Sanderson and Family Racing has continued its dream start to life in Charlton by notching up a double on Ouyen Pacing Cup day, including a win in the feature race.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The Sandersons headed north to Ouyen with a team of five horses and returned with a pair of winners and two placegetters.
Their three cup runners - Blaster Ranger, Dikerry and Loorrim Creek - finished first, third and fifth.
It continued a fairy tale run for the stable, which had recorded five wins in eight days since the move from Menangle Park in New South Wales.
The Sandersons opened their account with a win on their home track on Charlton Cup day with Dikerry.
They added a double at Swan Hill last Tuesday night with Sea Hawke and Leigha Miller before replicating the feat at Ouyen on Sunday with Blaster Ranger and Smoken Shazza.
An obvious highlight was a first-ever country cup win for teenage reinsman Ryan Sanderson aboard Blaster Ranger in the $14,500 Ouyen Pacing Cup.
The 17-year-old took Blaster Ranger straight to the front and despite pulling hard at various stages of the race, the five-year-old gelding had enough in the tank to hold out a fast-finishing Egodan and win by half a head.
Ryan described his first country cup win and the family's run of success since their arrival in Charlton just days before cup day as surreal.
"You don't really expect to be getting this many winners so close to the move," he told Trots Vision's Paul Campbell.
"I was really happy with his effort, he really put in.
"Credit to the horse, he really toughed it out, They really attacked him at the start, I got a bit worried there and then he started getting a bit keen.
"He had a little breather there, but credit to the horse he finished off well.
"The plan was always to lead.
"It's my first cup, so it's really exciting."
Father Shane could not have been prouder to see Ryan collect his first cup win.
"It's been a very good the move, we've started well," he said.
"Ryan's getting a few opportunities and he's making the most of them, so I'm very proud of him.
"When the speed came on he could have easily grabbed hold, but he showed maturity above his years.
"He knew the horse was a bit of a leader and to his credit, he held his nerve and he drove him well and we were lucky enough to hold on."
Only acquired by the Sandersons in August last year, Blaster Ranger has won four of his 11 starts for the family, including two at Menangle.
His overall record reads 12 wins and 10 placings from 43 starts for prize earnings of $67,502.
The Sandersons kicked off a big day with a win to Smoken Shazza.
The five-year-old mare sat outside the leader Blast Away throughout the trip and proved far too strong for his rivals in the run home to win by 1.9m over King Solomon, with Hancocks Hero for fellow Charlton trainer John Tormey close up in third.
Ryan was pleased Smoken Shazza was able to rebound from a disappointing last start sixth at Charlton.
"She's been a bit up and down with her form lately, but when she doesn't get on that knee she seems to run really good," he said.
"She didn't handle the track at all (at Charlton) and we just changed the bit with her and she seemed to like it driving-wise - she felt really nice."
With five winners in eight days of racing, Ryan was again pinching himself at their incredible start.
He praised the support of the Charlton Harness Racing Club and fellow local trainers in helping the family feel at home.
"They're a great lot of people, who always want to help you out whatever you need. They've been really good to us," he said.
"It's a good little community."
Another of the Sanderson's team Tuakana finished second in the second last race on the program.
READ MORE:
Have you signed up to the Bendigo Advertiser's daily newsletter and breaking news emails? You can register below and make sure you are up to date with everything that's happening in central Victoria.
