Young driver Ryan Sanderson achieved his first Group 1 success with Fox Dan (Art Major) as the colt finished brilliantly to win the $200,000 Group 1 Woodlands Stud Victoria Pacers Derby Final at Melton on Saturday evening.
Fox Dan was a top-class pacer during his junior career and was prohibitive favorite after drawing pole. However, it didn’t quite work out as he had to get up to keep up the famous Queensland speedster Final Decision. By then he will have used up a fair amount of money.
A daring move from Michael Stanley on Sao Paolo Simba saw him take the lead and Fox Dan was then pocketed behind the leader.
Then don’t hesitate and had one outward and the other back path. Captain Perfect then went around the field to race outside the leader from the bell.
Despite having a tough run, Captain Perfect got the better of Sao Paolo Simba, but Fox Dan was released from the fence and showed great grit to beat Captain Perfect, who fought tenaciously for second place and It’s Confidential finished in third place.
FOX THEN OCTOBER 18 REPEAT
Fate Awaits, well back in the race, went wide on the final lap, but with the leaders completing their final two quarters in 27.7 and 27.8 seconds he had little chance of making up much ground and finished in fifth place.
It was an emotional Ryan Sanderson after the event.
“I’m at a loss for words. It was amazing. I was a little concerned about the turnaround time. I just did a lot of research on these turnaround times. He had to burn pretty hard. I ended up sitting on Mick Stanley. That was fine. I had confidence he would get me where I needed to be. But I had to get out a little bit sooner. It’s a credit to Clayton and Emma for this horse. He got burned so early and as soon as I pulled him out he had Never feel like being defeated again.”
“He’s just an amazing horse. It’s life-changing to ride these kind of horses. It’s an amazing thrill and I’m honored and privileged to have the opportunity to ride these horses. I’m so lucky and happy to be able to make the most of it.”
“Mom and Dad helped me get to this point. They deserve all the success I get. So they helped get to this point.”
Captain Perfect was great in defeat giving Emma Stewart the only two training performance and It’s Confidential finished well to take third.
But all credit went to the winner and he has the potential to become a very good horse in the future.
By Tony Milanese for Harnesslink
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