SAMPSON “MASTERS” RIVAL TRAINERS FOR LOCAL BREAKTHROUGH

STEVEN SAMPSON WITH HIS WIFE MELINDA & REBECCA BRONETT PRAG

SCHOOL took a back seat for once!

Instead of teaching students, Kembla Grange hobby trainer Steven Sampson taught his rival trainers a “lesson” when he celebrated his first winner at his new home track.

His gelding Starinion led home an all-provincial finish to the Benchmark 64 Handicap (1200m) for five-year-olds and upwards.

Ridden by local apprentice Rebecca Bronett Prag, the $3 joint favorite bravely staved off a determined challenge from Hawkesbury trainer Marc Chevalier’s The New Sinatra ($12).

Gosford trainer Jake Hull’s $14 chance Allapercanto was third, and the other co-favorite, Hawkesbury trainer Jack Pilkington’s Pretty Tavi, who was having her last start, was fourth.

Sampson is a “retired” primary school teacher, but has been helping out at two schools within close proximity to Kembla Grange racecourse.

“We moved to Wollongong from Cessnock six months ago for family reasons, and also as my wife Melinda got a promotion in her work,” Sampson said this evening.

“The Education Department is short on experienced teachers, and I have been working at both schools three to four days a week.

“But knowing Starinion was racing, it was a day off from school today.

“I have only four horses at present, and get their trackwork finished by 7.30am before heading off to school.

“Starinion missed a first-up run on January 16 when the Moruya meeting was called off, and as a result he was a bit above himself when he ran second to Rob and Luke Price’s filly Aisle Two at Kembla Grange on January 28.

“Aisle Two ran well when second at Canterbury last Friday night, so the form was good and I gave him a great chance today.”

Sampson was down to one horse a couple of years ago when he decided to call well-known Hunter identity Paul Frampton to ask if he had any “spares” he could give him to train.

“I knew Paul through now retired Jeff Englebrecht (who trained for him), and he gave me two horses,” Sampson said.

“Starinion is one of them. The other is a four-year-old (Ransaigh Star) who debuted at Canberra last November, and is now back in work.

“Paul has since given me another two young horses; unraced three-year-old fillies (Star Ascend and Phoenistra) by the same sire Stratum Star as the other pair.”

Sampson said now five-year-old gelding Starinion had further improvement as this was only his second start since breaking through on June 8 last year in a 1400m Gulgong Maiden Handicap when ridden by now Newcastle-based apprentice Shannen Llewellyn.

“Starinion needed a decent break as he had been troubled by white line disease (an infection which affects a horse’s inner hoof wall),” he explained.

“We’ve got it sorted now, and hopefully we can win more races with him.”

. Sampson’s Kembla Grange breakthrough highlighted a good day for local stables.

Leading trainers Rob and Luke Price landed the Conditional Benchmark 68 Handicap (1400m) with Satness ($5.50), who clinched his ninth victory – and all but three have been at his home track.

“He’s a legend,” co-trainer Luke Price said. “He loves it here and was always going to be hard to beat when he jumped lengths ahead of his opposition, and Adam Hyeronimus was able to control things in front.”

Mitch Beer and George Carpenter rounded off the day by winning the Midway Class 1 Handicap (1400m) with Magical Moments.

At only her second start since joining Team Beer, the Winning Rupert mare surged clear in the closing stages to easily defeat Hawkesbury pair, Brad Widdup’s Bianca Mia ($4.80) and Mick Attard’s Damascus Calling ($31).

Fellow Kembla Grange trainer Joe Ible also was in the winner’s circle at Queanbeyan when Common Goal (Billy Owen) took the Maiden Plate (1460m) as a $2 favorite at his sixth start following two minor placings.

Leading Hawkesbury trainer Brad Widdup won his third race in four days when lightly-raced Waerea ($1.40 favorite) broke through in the Provincial Maiden Plate (1400m) at only his third start, and first since he was runner-up twice in September and October last year at the same track at his first racing campaign.

The three-year-old Bivouac colt is a half-brother to now retired triple Group 1 winner Duais.

“Waerea won narrowly but did a pretty good all the same,” Widdup said this evening.

“He made a long run from just after the 600m, and wouldn’t give in over the closing stages.

“He was first-up at 1400m, and can only improve from this run.”

STORY JOHN CURTIS, FEBRAURY 17, 2026 - PICS BRADLEY PHOTOS