SAMPSON’S $101 ROUGHE HITS THE RIGHT MARK

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STEVEN Sampson would have walked into Lake Heights Public School on the South Coast this morning with a spring in his step!

And with good reason.

The Kembla Grange hobby trainer and “retired” primary school teacher landed a $101 winner at the Sapphire Coast yesterday.

Ridden by apprentice Rebecca Bronett Prag, Ransaigh Star led all the way in the Maiden Handicap (1205m).

The lightly-raced four-year-old was having only his third start, and comfortably defeated $2.60 favorite Sunburnt Country and Whoopi Do ($10).

Whilst it was Sampson’s longest-priced winner, Ransaigh Star’s victory was not altogether unexpected.

And he went to every length to give the gelding his chance to break through at the TAB meeting.

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“I’ve always had a bit of an opinion of Ransaigh Star,” Sampson said last night.

“He was unbroken when I got him, and he’s been a very nervy horse.

“We floated him to the Sapphire Coast on Saturday night rather than on race morning to give him time to settle in.

“Ransaigh Star has been working well, and I did give him a chance in spite of his odds.

“I put blinkers on him for yesterday’s race, and I’m sure that helped.

“Whilst Ransaigh Star is still maturing, hopefully this win gives him confidence and he can go on with the job and win more races.”

Sampson and his wife Melinda (pictured above with Bronett Prag) relocated from Cessnock in the Hunter Valley to Wollongong last year, and he has been helping out at three schools in the district – Lake Heights, Cringila and Farmborough Road – because of a shortage of experienced teachers.

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School took a back seat in mid February when he scored with Starinion (also partnered by Bronett Prag) at his home track in February in a Benchmark 64 Handicap (1200m) when he also led throughout as a $3 favorite and defeated subsequent winner, Hawkesbury trainer Marc Chevalier’s The New Sinatra.

Ransaigh Star was bred by well-known Hunter racing identity Paul Frampton, who is a great supporter of the trainer’s stable.

“Paul has just sent me two unraced two-year-olds to train, and I’m looking forward to getting them going,” Sampson said.

“Starinion is back in in work and only a few weeks away from trialling.”

. HOOFNOTE: Ransaigh Star’s Sapphire Coast success was the second leg of a “family double”.

His older brother Norton Road (Stratum Star – Ransack) scored for Wyong trainer Rod Bailey at $18 at his home track last Thursday.

STORY JOHN CURTIS, MAY 4, 2026 - PICS BRADLEY PHOTOS