Young Rider Is Strapper For The Day For Scenic Blast
25 November, 2015
Off The Track
Western Australia’s premier thoroughbred race day, Super Saturday, was held last weekend and for one young racing enthusiast it was a day she won’t forget.
Sian Fanderlinden, 17, of Kinglsey, is an ardent racing fan and horse lover, who has followed the career of one of this State’s superstars Scenic Blast. Sian attends Riding for the Disabled Capricorn and is a very capable horse handler and rider.
As part of Super Saturday, Western Australian superstar racehorses, Scenic Blast and Scenic Shot made guest appearances, and Sharon Joyce from Off the Track invited Miss Fanderlinden along to assist strapping Scenic Blast.
“I decided to ask Sian to strap Scenic Blast on Super Saturday because she reminds me of me when I was her age, I was a racing fanatic too,” Ms Joyce said.
“When I was Sian’s age I could tell you every Perth Cup winner back to 1900 and I idolised WA trainers and jockeys such as Wally Mitchell, Buster O’Malley, Ted Hickling, Rod Kemp, Ian Albuino and Jason Oliver.
“To be able to fulfil Sian’s dream was an absolute thrill and gave me great pleasure throughout the entire day.”
Racing and Wagering WA’s (RWWA’s) licensing department organised a special strapper’s license for Miss Fanderlinden which was valid for the day.
Miss Fanderlinden can tell you anything about the racing industry, the horses and people associated with the industry, and was extremely excited on Super Saturday.
“This is so exciting, I have always dreamt of strapping a horse at the races,” Miss Fanderlinden said.
“Maybe one day I might strap a Melbourne Cup winner too.”
Witnessing Stevie Payne strap the recent Melbourne Cup winner Prince of Penzance has encouraged Sian to follow her dreams.
Another of Sian’s dreams has been to meet Damien Oliver, and thanks to RWWA Steward Travis Rendell and Clerk of Scales Laurie Millington, Sian was able to meet Damien Oliver on the day.
Thanks to Off the Track and Perth Racing Sian also toured the Judge’s box, met race caller Darren McAullay and visited the Member’s Area and Committee Room where the Winterbottom and Railway Stakes Trophies were displayed.
Scenic Blast has won $2.1 million in stakes money, was Australian Horse of the Year in 2008/2009 and was last year inducted into the Racing and Wagering WA’s Hall of Fame. Scenic Shot has been nominated for the 2016 Hall of Fame.