Chief Stipe Posted March 24, 2019 Share Posted March 24, 2019 Quality Awapuni stayer Sampson will attempt to add to his proud record in a home-track feature this weekend. The Dubai Destination gelding has contested the Gr. 2 City Of Palmerston North Awapuni Gold Cup in each of the last two years. He won it in 2017 (beating Five To Midnight by half a length) and finished a close third last year behind Our Abbadean and Five To Midnight. Sampson is heading into this year’s edition of the $100,000 feature in high-flying form, having scored a breathtakingly dominant eight-length victory in the Listed New Zealand St Leger at Trentham two weeks ago. “He was amazing in the St Leger,” said Howie Mathews, who trains the nine-year-old for his wife Lorraine and co-owner Janice Street. “He was up against some emerging young stayers – they may have won only one or two races, but they looked like up-and-comers for the big staying races next season. So we didn’t really know what to expect. “In the end he was dominant. He was very, very impressive. We were blown away. “He’s come through the run fantastically well. You wouldn’t even know he’d had a race. It was like an exercise gallop for him. He’s looking great. “We’ll have another go at the Awapuni Gold Cup on Saturday. He’s won it before and he also ran a really good race in it last year. It’s been a really nice late-season race for him over the years. “Johnathan Parkes is keen to ride him again and we’re looking forward to it. We’re hoping he can produce another big performance.” Bought for just $20,000 as a yearling, Sampson has won 11 of his 64 starts and more than $437,000 in prize-money. View the full article Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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