Roughie claims Cup

By Michael Howard (HRV)

“Awesome” and “special” were but a few of the superlatives that spilled forward after Sahara Tiger stunned in the Tasco Petroleum Mildura Pacing Cup last Saturday night.

A track specialist, the seven-year-old delivered the biggest win of reinsman Ryan Sanderson’s promising career, and deservedly so after an outstanding drive when he turned a tricky back row draw into the best seat in the house.

When favourite Cant Top This failed to handle the final bend, opportunity knocked and Sahara Tiger responded, overrunning leader Serg Blanco to score in the $60,000 classic.

For proud dad and trainer Shane Sanderson, the win at $126 was “a special victory”.

“Mildura’s been good to us since we’ve been here, and with Ryan driving and a great bunch of owners, it’s a special night,” Shane said.

“(Sahara Tiger’s) a track specialist and we thought he’d be a bit outclassed but he just got a good run.”

And that run came when favourite Cant Top This, starting inside the back row, eased off the gates to quickly get into the running line and avoid being boxed in. That enabled Ryan Sanderson, drawn next to him in gate eight, to slide straight to the pegs and on the back of Serg Blanco, who held the lead from inside the front row.

“We thought we’d be a slim chance of being behind the leader,” Shane Sanderson said. “I thought top five if we were behind the leader, and he was just in the right spot and put his best foot forward and was Johnny on the spot.”

Serg Blanco carried Sahara Tiger all the way to the home turn, with only modest pressure in the race despite Cant Top This sitting in the breeze for much of the running.

Ryan Duffy released Serg Blanco in a 28.2-second third quarter to gain separation from Cant Top This, who further struggled at the final turn.

The leader was then swamped late, with Sahara Tiger and fellow roughie Western Sonador finishing the strongest and Cant Top This recovering for third.

“That was awesome,” Ryan Sanderson said. “We were always pretty happy with him, he’s a very honest horse, but just in recent times he hasn’t been proven over this distance and in a quality field like this it was a bit of the unknown, but credit to dad and the horse, and me and Abby qualified him and it’s a great win.”

It was also a special moment for a big group of owners who gladly accepted the prized cup.