Sport

Sulky Shorts: Clean sweep at Pacers Derby

By Gus Underwood

Oct 23, 2025

Murchison reinsman Ryan Sanderson drove Fox Dan to success in the Victoria Pacers Derby at Melton last Saturday night. Photo by photographer: Stuart McCormick

Murchison reinsman Ryan Sanderson joined the Group 1 Drivers Club as Goulburn Valley reinsmen made a clean sweep of the major placings in the Victoria Pacers Derby at Melton last Saturday night.

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Sanderson, 22, produced a gem of a drive to land the Emma Stewart-trained Fox Dan the winner of the $150,000 blue riband feature.

Sanderson had some familiar faces fighting out the finish with Fox Dan, with another of the Stewart runners, Captain Perfect, finishing second with Stanhope reinsman Mart Pitt in the sulky, while the Russell Jack-prepared and Nathan Jack-driven Its Confidential filled the third placing in the time-honoured classic.

Starting from the pole, Sanderson was able to hold the early front running with Fox Dan, a three-year-old colt by premier sire Art Major, before Sao Paulo Simba took over the front-running position two laps out.

When Fox Dan, who had been following Sao Paulo Simba, got clear of the marker pegs in the home straight he was able to run down Captain Perfect, who had taken the lead on the home bend.

Its Confidential finished hard in the concluding stages to nab third place just over three metres from the winner.

Sanderson had driven Fox Dan in his previous five races for four wins and a second, and the pacer now boasts a career record of 15 starts for 10 wins, three seconds and a third, and has earned $640,007 in prizemoney.

Sanderson aImost made his Group 1 milestone a personal career milestone as well, as it was his 499th win in the sulky.

Sanderson, Pitt and Jack also featured in the finishes of other feature races at the Melton meeting.

Sanderson partnered another of the Stewart team, Most Exciting, into third place in the two-year-old Shakamaker Classic, Pitt drove Soap And Bubbles, trained his wife Lisa, into third place in the Victoria Oaks, while Jack also had a second place finish with Gatesys Gem in the Victoria Trotters Oaks.

Drivers in form

Ryan Sanderson, Mark Pitt and Nathan Jack were also front and square at Tuesday night’s Shepparton meeting.

The trio all drove winners.

Sanderson reined the Art Major filly Captain Molly to win a maiden two-year-old event with a powerful finishing surge in an impressive 1.55.8 mile rate for the 1690m trip at only her second race start.

But she had indicated in her debut outing on the same track on October 7, when second to My Ideal Dream, that she had her share of ability.

Sanderson’s father, Shane, prepares Captain Molly, who is out of the Bettors Delight mare Morton Plains, a winner of 11 races.

Nathan Jack partnered the Steve Duffy-trained Sharp Interest for a tenacious win at the Shepparton meeting.

The five-year-old Stay Hungry filly worked straight to the front and determinedly saw off all challengers in a brave effort to record her third win in 14 starts with three minor placings. Her 1.55.4 mile rate over the 1690m was a PB.

Mark Pitt enjoyed the easiest win at the Shepparton meeting on speedy trotter Keayang Brandy.

The four-year-old mare by Aldebaran Eagle ran her rivals ragged over the 2190m trip with the runner-up Manda Kyvalley finishing 12 metres astern.

The win completed a hat-trick of wins after scoring at Cranbourne and Shepparton at her previous two starts.

In six starts since Pitt’s wife, Lisa, took over her training, Keayang Brandy has saluted four times and been runner-up twice.

Wilsons in the winners’ circle

The Wilsons have had another good week, with winners at Bendigo, Swan Hill and Shepparton.

At last week’s Bendigo meeting they struck with Byrneside Boom and at Tuesday night’s Shepparton meeting they produced trotter Bat Out Of Hill for his maiden win.

Byrneside Boom ticked off a couple of milestones with his win at Bendigo.

It was his 50th start and seventh career win, which took his prizemoney earnings to $500,000.

His trainer and driver, Byrneside horseman Damian Wilson, has missed only the one drive on the four-year-old Sportswriter gelding.

At this week’s Shepparton meeting, three-year-old trotter Bat Out Of Hill scored his maiden win at only his third race start.

Trained by Laura Wilson and driven by her hubby, Damian, Bat Out Of Hill unleashed a strong finishing burst to dispose of more fancied rivals at healthy tote odds of 14/1.

In between Byrneside Boom and Bat Out Of Hill’s wins, Damian made the most of his catch drive on the Gary Pekin-trained veteran Cresco Threepeat with a win at Friday’s Swan Hill meeting.

Another Goulburn Valley win at the Shepparton meeting was recorded by Shepparton reinswoman Tasmyn Potter, who partnered the Ben Pell-prepared Valiente to an impressive win, the 17th of his career.

Stunning success

Goulburn Valley trainers enjoyed wins at last Friday’s Swan Hill meeting.

Kyabram’s Mark Watson produced the lightly raced pacer Totally Stunning for an easy win, while Stanhope mentor Gary Pekin racked up another win with veteran pacer Cresco Threepeat.

Driven by Jack Laugher, it was Totalling Stunning’s first win in 11 tries and it was a popular win with punters as the filly was an odds-on chance.

Nine-year-old pacer Cresco Threepeat saluted for the 24th time with his win by a short half head.

Damian Wilson was in the sulky for the win.

As well as his 24 wins the nine-year-old gelding by Blissfull Hall has been runner-up 18 times and third on 22 occasions from his 170 career starts.

The hardy pacer was bred and is owned by the trainer’s wife, Jane, so it’s a real family affair.

Bailey still going strong

Persistence has certainly paid off for talented veteran pacer Code Bailey, an all-the-way winner at Melton last Saturday night.

The 10-year-old by Christian Cullen has had some stable swaps in his 60-race career but showed he still has some life in those ageing legs with a dominant pillar-to-post win, the 19th of his career.

It was also his third run in this campaign after hitting the spelling paddock in February.

Prepared by Marg and Paddy Lee and driven by Jason Lee, Code Bailey has Goulburn Valley connections, having been bred by Ross Pyke, who trained him for his first four starts. He finished top three in his first seven starts with a maiden class win at Kilmore and has won in Victoria, NSW and Queensland.

Vince Vallelonga also trained him for a brief period but the Lees have had him in their stable for majority of his race starts and he has repaid them with 10 wins.