Sport, racing, and mateship have connected Victorian harness racing trainer Shane Sanderson and his good mate “Menko” for more than 20 years, but there’s no doubt their latest run of success together is bittersweet.
“Menko”, former rugby league pro and coach Craig Menkins, has been one of Sanderson’s most loyal supporters on the up-and-down road that is professional harness racing.
And now “Sando” is doing his best to repay the faith with promising youngster Ourmatemenko (Downbytheseaside) after his friend was diagnosed 18 months ago with an inoperable brain tumor aged just 50.
Sanderson, who is also a former A-Grade rugby league player, said he and Menkins had been great mates since the early 2000s.
“I got to know him when I went up to Mackay with a plan to play football and work in the mines. Menko was the coach and got me a job in the mines,” Sanderson said.
“I led him astray into horses from then – he’s been a driving force of one of our main owners’ syndicates and just a huge supporter of mine. He’s stuck with me through thick and thin but more than that he’s just a gem of a bloke.
“He does things like a Santa run for the local kids in Mackay. He buys presents for the kids and dresses up – in every aspect of life you wouldn’t get a better bloke.”
Sanderson said Menkins and the syndicates he managed were a key factor in his decision to go professional in harness racing.
“The syndicates morphed a couple of times, as they do, but Menko was at the forefront every time – he was very supportive and probably the reason we made the decision to move from Queensland to Sydney when the opportunity came up at Menangle. He said: ‘Mate, I think you should go, and we’ll support you’.”
It proved to be a positive move, with the Menkins-led syndicate purchasing New Zealand pacer Expressionist (Live Or Die) soon after.
“Expressionist (25 wins) has probably been Menko’s best horse up until now, but we’ve had a lot of wins together, probably over 100,” Sanderson said.
“And again, when Naomi and I decided to move to Victoria to give more opportunities to our kids (up-and-coming concession drivers Ryan and Abby) Menko was right behind us.”
Sanderson said the current success being enjoyed by the Reach For the Stars Syndicate with Ourmatemenko was the result of a decision to invest in youngsters just before the Sandersons moved to Charlton early in 2021.
“They really backed us by buying up at the New Zealand weanling sale (in 2020). We bought eight weanlings and we’ve brought five over to Australia,” Sanderson said.
“Once we found out about Menko’s diagnosis, we decided to name what looked to be the best of them after him – so Ourmatemenko was the obvious choice.”
The now three-year-old has done his bit – from seven starts he’s looked super impressive winning five (with two placings) including the most recent last Sunday at Shepparton (May 7) in the $10,000 Kim O’Keeffe Pace. He was driven by Abby Sanderson who has now handled the gelding in three of his wins.
“He’s certainly got a lot of potential. He’s very immature but if he improves with maturity, he could end up a very nice horse, one of Menko’s best, and that would mean a lot to all of us,” Sanderson said.
by Terry Gange, for Harnesslink