By Michael Howard (HRV)<\/p>\n
\u201cAwesome\u201d and \u201cspecial\u201d were but a few of the superlatives that spilled forward after Sahara Tiger stunned in the Tasco Petroleum Mildura Pacing Cup last Saturday night.<\/p>\n
A track specialist, the seven-year-old delivered the biggest win of reinsman Ryan Sanderson\u2019s promising career, and deservedly so after an outstanding drive when he turned a tricky back row draw into the best seat in the house.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
For proud dad and trainer Shane Sanderson, the win at $126 was \u201ca special victory\u201d.<\/p>\n
\u201cMildura\u2019s been good to us since we\u2019ve been here, and with Ryan driving and a great bunch of owners, it\u2019s a special night,\u201d Shane said.<\/p>\n
\u201c(Sahara Tiger\u2019s) a track specialist and we thought he\u2019d be a bit outclassed but he just got a good run.\u201d<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe thought we\u2019d be a slim chance of being behind the leader,\u201d Shane Sanderson said. \u201cI 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.\u201d<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
The leader was then swamped late, with Sahara Tiger and fellow roughie Western Sonador finishing the strongest and Cant Top This recovering for third.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat was awesome,\u201d Ryan Sanderson said. \u201cWe were always pretty happy with him, he\u2019s a very honest horse, but just in recent times he hasn\u2019t 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\u2019s a great win.\u201d<\/p>\n
It was also a special moment for a big group of owners who gladly accepted the prized cup.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
By Michael Howard (HRV) \u201cAwesome\u201d and \u201cspecial\u201d 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\u2019s promising career, and deservedly so after an outstanding drive when he […]<\/p>\n