YOUNG Charlton driver Ryan Sanderson has capped a brilliant first month in Victoria by steering home 12 winners.
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The 17-year-old moved to Charlton with his family last month from Menangle Park in New South Wales and was able to celebrate a win with only his second drive as a Victorian on his new home track on cup day.
He has since landed a further 11 winners - most of them for his father Shane - in an impressive start to the next phase of his blossoming career in the sulky.
Sanderson continued his momentum last week at Cranbourne by steering home a winner for Mitchell Park trainer Kelvin Barker aboard Flying Art.
It followed a win on Mildura Pacing Cup night (April 10) for Strathfieldsaye trainer Julie Douglas on Hayden Bromac.
Sanderson, who has notched up 37 winners in total to start his career, said never had he experienced a four or five-week period like the one he had endured since his arrival at Charlton.
"I've driven a double here and there and had a few wins in a few days, but nothing like this week-to-week," he said.
"I've been pretty lucky.
"Hopefully I can keep it up. With horse racing, you just never know when things can turn.
"Our horses are going pretty good, but they might hit their mark soon, which will make things a bit harder."
Sanderson has notched up a pair of wins for Barker this month, starting with Madeeba on April 4 at Hamilton, followed by Flying Art at Cranbourne.
Having had five drives in total for Barker for two wins and two placings, Sanderson hopes the association can continue.
"He's been very loyal and he has kept me on," he said.
The undoubted highlight for Sanderson and the stable since the move was Blaster Ranger's win in last month's $14,500 Ouyen Pacing Cup.
A big day for trainer Shane Sanderson included a double with Blaster Ranger and Smoken Shazza, placings of first, third (Dikerry) and fifth (Loorrim Creek) in the cup, and a second with Tuakana.
A dream run for the family included a first-ever country cup win for young Ryan.
"That was easily the biggest race I've won and a big thrill," he said.
Sanderson has quickly settled into life in Charlton and, when time permits, he has been training with the town's North Central league football team.
"I was nearly going to play on Saturday, but I had the races at Geelong on and couldn't make it," he said.
"There is a home game this weekend so I might be able to make it for that.
"I played a bit of NRL back in New South Wales up until under-16s. I haven't been able to make it too many training sessions, I've been a bit busy, but I'm trying my best."
Sanderson will be back aboard Flying Art at Ararat on Tuesday night and will have four drives for his father at Mildura on Wednesday night, including Miss Serena, Joice Mary, Sea Hawke and Loorrim Creek, and one for Peter Thompson (Her Heart Of Gold).
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