Sampson (NZ) Scores Third Stakes Win

Bought for just $20,000 at the 2011 Festival Sale at Karaka, Sampson (NZ) (Dubai Destination) took his earnings past $400,000 with his third black-type win in Saturday’s $55,000 Listed Gallagher Marton Cup (2200m) at Awapuni.

After an economical rails run in fourth or fifth position, jockey Johnathan Parkes angled Sampson into the clear in the home straight. He produced a powerful finishing burst, sprinting past the leaders to win by three and three-quarter lengths.

“It’s amazing,” trainer Howie Mathews said. “He won really well. His work’s been fantastic this week. He’s been up a long time, but he just keeps giving and giving.

“We’ve never lost faith in this horse. He’s an old boy now, but he’ll keep going. He showed a good turn of foot today, and let’s hope he can produce that again in the Wellington Cup.”

The $250,000 Group 3 NZ Campus for Innovation & Sport Wellington Cup (3200m) will be run at Trentham on January 19.

Sampson is raced by Mathews’ wife Lorraine in partnership with Janice Street. Saturday’s win sits alongside his earlier victories in the Group 2 Awapuni Gold Cup (2000m) and Group 3 Trentham Stakes (2100m).

He has now had 61 starts for 10 wins, 13 placings and $405,200 in stakes – more than 20 times his purchase price.