Former Queensland harness racing trainer Shane Sanderson was the first interstate trainer to make the move to the new Menangle Training Centre earlier this year. In total Sanderson has had 45 starters since making the fulltime move to Sydney and broke through for a metropolitan winner at Tabcorp Park Menangle when My Jellignite won Saturday night's Free- For- All.
Ironically Sanderson was at Brisbane's Albion Park on Saturday night cheering home his children as they competed on their mini-trotters and missed the win.
"My wife and kids are still in Queensland and it is very hard being away from them," Sanderson said.
"Last weekend was one of my trips back to Brisbane to catch up with them so I actually missed my first Saturday winner but it was great to see My Jellignite win."
Sanderson confirmed he was a little surprised by the victory but the small field suited My Jellignite and he got the perfect run throughout.
"I was a bit surprised by the win but in saying that, at his best, he's never far away from the open company horses. He has won a couple of Free-For-All races in Brisbane with the right run, he can be dangerous in those sort of races especially when the best horses aren't there.
"My Jellignite hadn't raced for a month, he had some vet work done during that time because he does have a few maintenance issues as he is getting older. He has been competing mainly at the Tuesday meetings and therefore been drawing poorly because of his assessment but has been getting back and running home quite well."
The decision to make the move to Sydney was a difficult one for Sanderson and he is giving himself twelve months to establish himself.
"I hope to be in Sydney for good. It is a 'suck it and see approach' and at the end of the year I will talk with my family and see how things are going. I'm happy with how everything is going – I think I've started quite well. "
"I've run a lot of placings and have had three or four winners. I've lost count of the number of close seconds I've run but it has been good for the owners so far."
From Sanderson's 45 starters he has trained four winners, ten seconds and four thirds.
"I bought ten horses down with me and I currently have eleven on the books. I'm hoping to slowly increase the numbers with some good results.
"The opportunities that could present themselves in Sydney, the prize money and the state of the art facilities were the reasons I decided to make the move and hopefully the decision turns out to be the right one."
Greg Hayes