3 minute read
Two months to the day after a fall that fractured his collarbone, senior rider Daniel Ganderton returns to race riding in Devonport on Sunday.
Daniel Ganderton hasn't ridden since Ladbrokes Launceston Cup Day when a tumble near the finish line put him on the sidelines. Ganderton will ease his way back into the saddle accepting just three rides at his comeback meet.
"It's not 100% but the surgeon was happy for me to get back amongst it. It (the collarbone) will only get stronger over the next couple of weeks," Ganderton said.
"There's a bit more rehab but I'm happy with where it's at."
Ganderton says he would have liked to have ridden Far Away Hit (55.5kg) for his uncle Mark Ganderton in the Goodstone Group Class One (1150m) but at this stage can't make the weight.
"I haven't been able to do the amount of training that I need to get my weight down so now that the body is starting to heal up I'll just incrementally start to take a few more rides and get a bit lighter and go from there."
On Sunday, Ganderton isn't riding below 59kg.
The Ganderton team does look to have a strong winning chance with newcomer Manco Man who goes around in the Great Northern BM62, over 1350m.
Manco Man is having his first start for the Mark Ganderton stable and while his interstate form suggests he will be better suited over longer trips, his trial efforts have him right in the mix.
"He trialled very well, his form is obviously over further but probably with the different style of training down here, he seems to have a bit of dash in his legs at the moment and we are hoping that he will acquit himself well on Sunday."
Ganderton's other rides on Sunday are Alpine Affair in race 5 and Schauffele in the second last. He is hoping that all going well, he will be able to ride smart mare Sirene Stryker at Sandown in Melbourne on 29 April.
"She'll run in a (BM) 78 fillies and mares race next Saturday so that's why I've been pushing myself along to try and be back, she ran terrifically well the other day and she's in really good order so hopefully she can knock one over."
Sirene Stryker was narrowly beaten at Sandown on 8 April at her first run since finishing second in the Vamos Stakes on Launceston Cup Day.
Looking for a best bet, I'm inclined to think Ganderton will miss a winning ride on Far Away Hit (race 3 – 6). She was super in Hobart last time when narrowly beaten by a promising galloper after having no peace throughout the race.
Tiltherewarsyou (race 7 – 7) appeals as a nice each-way play coming off a strong recent trial in Devonport.
Racing gets underway at 12.33 with the last of eight at 16.43.
