The Full Story
About
Despite coming from a non-horsey family, Sam always had the horse bug and began her career riding and breaking in ponies at her home in Glorit and competing in Eventing scene from age of 15. From there, her passion for educating young horses grew as she relocated to the Waikato to work for dressage rider Tracy Smith. A part of the NZ Eventing Squads, Sam advanced through the eventing ranks gaining success along the way through to 4* level and 1.40m Showjumping both in NZ and the UK. Upon returning home to New Zealand after a stint in England, Sam worked for Jeff McVean before establishing her own business.
Racing
In the beginning, riding trackwork was simply a way to fund her eventing team, but it wasn’t long before Sam found herself drawn to the world of racing. What started as a side hustle quickly evolved into a full-time passion.
Her reputation for patience, skill and producing well-educated young horses grew, and she was soon in demand to break in and pre-train thoroughbreds from her base in Te Awamutu. When the opportunity arose to move to a larger property just minutes from the Cambridge Jockey Club, Sam took the leap -relocating to Hunter Lane, where the team now thrives.
The relaxed atmosphere, daily turnout, and access to top-class training tools like the arena, hacking tracks, swimming pool, and the Cambridge track itself have all contributed to an environment where horses flourish. Sam continues to ride much of the trackwork herself and manages the breaking-in process from start to finish - giving her a unique, hands-on perspective and the ability to closely monitor each horse's progress.
Since basing herself in Cambridge, Sam has achieved her Class A trainer’s license, as well as both amateur and jumps jockey licenses.
In 2023, her first full season training, Sam won the Gavelhouse Newcomer to Training award, a premiership held amongst trainers in their first five years of holding a license. Alongside the ten winners from 72 starters that season, Sam also achieved stakes success with Imwonderfultonight winning the Listed City Of Napier Sprint (1200m).
