‘Quirky’ Sam finally delivers his best - could we see him in the cup come November?

Lincoln Farms’ trainer Ray Green described Simply Sam as “quirky” after his long overdue win at Auckland tonight.

Just two weeks shy of 12 months since his last win, Simply Sam enjoyed a perfect trail in the IRT Your Horse Our Passion Pace before sprinting up the passing lane to pip the fast-finishing pair of Hooray Henry and Kahlua Flybye.

Andre Poutama after a 10 out of 10 drive.But even in his moment of redemption, Sam confounded driver Andre Poutama with his half-hearted finish, first trying to duck out when the blinds were pulled, losing momentum, then only really taking off after the finishing post.

“Knowing how much speed he’s got, he didn’t win as easily as I thought he should have, especially with the run he got,” Poutama said.

“He wasn’t concentrating and then when he went to take off after the line, I thought what the heck?”

Poutama had to visibly restrain the horse into the back straight to pull him up.

But in a winning change of tack, Poutama said he’d gone back to driving Simply Sam quietly tonight, like a real sit-sprinter.

“We’ve tried to give him his chance recently and it hasn’t worked so we went back to how he likes to be driven.”

After making a slick beginning to lead, Poutama immediately backed off, allowing Brookies Jafa to take the top.

The tactics worked and with a sedate clip, and overall time of 3:27.9 for the 2700 metres, Sam was in his element as he sprinted his last 800 in 56.5 and 400 in 28.7.

Green said he was relieved to see Simply Sam back in the winner’s circle.

“It has been a very disappointing 12 months - he’s much better than he’s been showing.

Ray Green accepts thanks and some advice from a part-owner.“He didn’t perform like I thought he would in Australia, though he did run into some serious horses over there, like Leap To Fame.”

On his return Simply Sam’s deteriorating behaviour meant he had to be gelded and his condition fell right away.

“But it’s encouraging to see him back and hopefully he can improve further.”

Green revealed Simply Sam had been nominated for the $650,000 New Zealand Trotting Cup in November.

“It’s only a nomination, we’ll see what happens, but if you’re not in, you can’t win.

“If he can keep improving that would justify the nomination.”

Green said Simply Sam might have been helped tonight by racing without an overcheck.

“He trained well without it the other day and if you can get away without it, it’s better for them.”

Among Lincoln Farms’ partners pleased to see their favourite return to his best was Robert Best who admitted he thought the horse would be up against it, racing stronger opposition than in recent weeks.

Priscilla Edmunds lectures Green in some post race hilarity.The drought had certainly brought them back to reality after his impressive hat-trick in June and July of 2022 had promised so much.

“His form hasn’t been bad but we’d been expecting better. Obviously he’s not done yet though.”

After being presented with the trophy by Lincoln Farms’ boss John Street, part-owner Priscilla Edmunds thanked Green for all that he had put up with from the horse.

“But you have to tell your drivers what you expect of them,” she said in reference to the changed tactics Green had devised.

“You know your horses better than your drivers.”

Simply Sam has now won seven races and $84,000 for John and Lynne Street, Best and his wife Donna, Edmunds, Kim Miller, the Red & Blue Syndicate and the Green Machine Racing Syndicate.