Veteran Wins Marton Cup

Media Release - Saturday January 5

Evergreen galloper Sampson proved that age is just a number when he gave his younger rivals a solid beating in Saturday's Listed Gallagher Marton Cup (2200m).

Sampson - Race ImagesThe nine-year-old gelding has been a regular fixture in the major staying races over several years and was rewarded when he launched an irresistible finishing burst to capture the Awapuni feature.

Unlucky at his previous start in the Gr.3 Manawatu Cup (2200m), the Howie Matthews-trained stayer received a dream run on the fence for rider Johnathan Parkes and proved too strong in the closing stages for pacemaker China Star and Jacksstar.

Matthews had expressed confidence in his charge's chances before the race and was sporting a wide grin when accepting congratulations after the race.

"It's amazing, he won well," he said.

"His work this week has been fantastic. He's been up a long time, but he just keeps giving and giving.

"I take my hat off to Johnathan as he looked like he was panicking swinging for home, but that little gap came, and it shows you when your luck is there, you get the run and you're home.

"Let's hope he can produce that in the Wellington Cup."

Advertisement

Matthews is looking forward to tackling the Gr.3 NZ Campus for Innovation & Sport Wellington Cup (3200m) with Sampson, a race he placed second in last year after finishing third in 2016.

"He's an old boy but he'll keep going," he said.

"As long as he wants to get up and go, I'll be there for him."

Sampson is raced by Matthew's wife Lorraine and Mrs JL Street and has won ten of his 61 career starts, along with 13 placings for over $405,000 in stakes earnings. Amongst his 10 wins are the Gr.2 Awapuni Gold Cup (2000m) and Gr.3 Trentham Stakes (2100m).

Sampson is now rated an $8 third favourite in the TAB Fixed Odds market for the Wellington Cup behind current favourite Excalibur ($6). – NZ Racing Desk

Advertisment
More Reading...
Sires With Winners - Saturday June 28
Here is the full list of 109 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Better Than Ready’s Metalart Wins Group 3 W J Healy Stakes
Improving off a third in the Listed Lightning Handicap at Eagle Farm recently, 4yo Better Than Ready gelding Metalart stepped up to 1200m to record his first black type success, winning the Group 3 W J Healy Stakes.
Super Seth 3YO Salutes for Baker
A tenacious front-running performance in Saturday’s A$160,000 Captivant @ Kia Ora Handicap (1400m) at Rosehill added a first city victory to Puntin’s burgeoning record.
Corumbene Stud Homebred Tashi Wins G1 Tatts Tiara
From the last crop of foals sired by Widden Stud’s much missed Golden Slipper winning sire Sebring, five year-old mare Tashi may also be his final Group I winner as she produced a career best performance at Eagle Farm on Saturday to win the $700,000 Group I Tatts Tiara (1400m).
Almanzor Stayer wins G3 Tattersalls Cup
It's been a long time since the  2022 Victoria Derby and some may have wondered whether the winner Manzoice was ever going to win again!
Sampson Strikes in NZ St Leger
Venerable stayer Sampson took advantage of the new conditions of the Listed Yealands Family Wines NZ St Leger (2600m) at Trentham on Saturday to run out an emphatic eight-length winner.
Aussie 2YO SW for Tivaci
New Zealand-bred colt Matahga stamped himself as an exciting spring three-year-old prospect with a hard-fought victory in the A$120,000 Listed David Peacock Oaklands Plate (1400m) at Morphettville on Saturday.
Tattersall’s Mile For The Inflictor - Under The Louvre’s Second SW
Third at Listed level before winning at Doomben, the Craig Cousins-trained The Inflictor (Under The Louvre) then tackled the Group 1 Stradbroke Handicap, and while not in the same league as winner War Wachine (Harry Angel), the 4yo gelding showed his class on Saturday to win the Listed BRC Tattersall’s Mile (1600m) at Eagle Farm.
Private Eye’s Half-Brother King’s Secret Wins Again
Although he may never reach the heights of his older half-brother Private Eye, a Group 1 winner and earner of more than $12m to date, connections of King’s Secret (Shalaa) are sure to have plenty of their own fun with the 3yo gelding winning at Rosehill on Saturday.
Another Aussie SW Sourced from Aga Khan Studs
When Australian investors buy tried horses out of Europe from Aga Khan Studs they know they are getting quality, but the good ones don’t come cheap with Elamaz (IRE) sourced from their draft at the Arqana Arc Sale last year for €480,000.