The ducks are aligning for Captain Sampson
Garrick Knight - Raceform • December 18th, 2025 11:23 AM • 4 min read
In the space of about 60 hours, Ardmore trainer Gareth Hughes had three reasons to be chuffed with star pacer Captain Sampson.
The first came at Alexandra Park last Friday night when the son of Captaintreacherous won the $25,000 Northern 3YO Stakes. That win gave him crucial points to shift up the ladder for this week’s big Golden Gait race night, for which he was 25th in the order of entry before the win.
Then came the confirmation that his likely main opponent, Greased Lightnin, was heading to Ashburton this week for the Harness 5000 instead.
And finally it was confirmed on Monday that enough horses had withdrawn to give Captain Sampson that Golden Gait start.
“It was a great few days for us and the owners, that’s for sure,” said Hughes, who trains in partnership with his father Bunty.
“And he’s come through that run really well too. We may have snuck in the back door, but he’s bright and well and we are really happy with him.”
The only downside is that Captain Sampson has drawn the outside of the second row under the race’s preferential conditions, so driver Tony Cameron is going to have earn his pay cheque.
“It’s definitely going to be tough from the draw, but I think he probably is the best horse in the race.
“Tony will probably just have to play it by ear a little bit in a big field from the mile start point, he’s going to need a very good drive.”
Bookies opened Captain Sampson a prohibitive $2 favourite on Tuesday, with Pukekohe filly Debbie Lincoln the clear second elect at $3 from a plum front-line alley.
“I thought Debbie Lincoln, who goes well, was drawn to lead them up and hopefully run them along. The harder they go, probably the better it plays in to our hands.”
Hughes isn’t sure that an early move is the right tactic for Cameron.
“He’s kind of dictated to by what happens in front of him. So I’m sure he’ll let that unfold and execute his plan after that.”
Last week’s run was merely a dash up the lane for Captain Sampson, with sectionals of 56.8 and 26.9 telling the story.
Hughes isn’t concerned about it being an inadequate lead-up.
“He was pretty close to the mark last week and now, with five starts under his belt, he’s pretty ready.”
Hughes wasn’t prepared to rule out an Auckland Cup tilt with Captain Sampson on New Year’s Eve.
“I wouldn’t say it’s off the table, but it will depend on how he goes this week and what the Cup field shapes up like. If he wins this week, he’s near enough to a rating 80 and that means we can’t hide him from the best ones anymore.”
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