By Jonny Turner
Daniel Anderson added to his family’s legacy in Southern racing when clinching his first victory as a driver at Ascot Park yesterday.
The junior driver broke through for his maiden victory in his second season on the track when Superfastsuperstar lunged late to take out yesterday’s opener.
Anderson has racing in his blood, but largely through the thoroughbred code.
The reinsman is the nephew of leading Southland trainer Jo-Ann Gordon and grandson of the late Jack Gordon, a prolific preparer of winners and a Grand National winning trainer.
With those racing genes, there should be no surprise that Anderson has caught the racing bug.
“I left school and I wasn’t sure what I was going to do, I was too big to be a jockey.”
“I went to Kirk Larsen’s and worked there for three and a half years and he taught me how to drive.”
“Then I went to Murray Brown’s.”
“I like the horses and I like the people and I love the driving.”
Anderson drove a perfect race behind Superfastsuperstar.
The reinsman slotted the trotter into the trail behind the front-running Tease My Tartan before urging him to victory in the centre of the track.
The win was a well-deserved one for Superfastsuperstar who has produced consistent overall form for Tapanui trainer Alan Shaw.
Though the trotter’s last start didn’t go to plan when a gear issue saw him having to be pulled up.
“He got his tongue over the bit last week which was unfortunate because he was probably going to be right in it,” Anderson said.
“He went good this week, he got around the bends good which he can struggle with.”
“Alan does a super job, he shoes the horse himself and does everything.”
“A big thanks to him for leaving me on to get my first winner.”
Anderson’s fellow junior drivers Oliver Kite, Sarah O’Reilly and Tom Nally each notched wins at Ascot Park yesterday.
Nally was back in the winner’s circle for the first time since May when driving I’m Watching You To victory in race 8.
The reinsman had been forced out of the sulky during his time between victories after suffering fractures to a leg and to his back in two separate horse-related accidents.
Nally works for I’m Watching You’s trainer Hamish Hunter, as well as assisting Kirk Larsen and breaking in horses of his own.
