Most trainers go to the races hoping to train a single winner. Adam Campton trained five at the Gold Coast on Saturday.
The second-season trainer clinched the Gold Coast premiership in dominant fashion in the process, knocking off Toby Edmonds to cap a remarkable year.
Heading into the day locked on 29 winners apiece with Edmonds at the Gold Coast, Campton kicked things off when Veloce Meteor ($5.50) caused an upset in the first race and then trained all four quaddie legs with Flying Ting Lok ($1.60), Caderas ($3.50), Living Free ($2.30) and Gregarious ($10) all saluting.
“It was an awesome thrill, I know it was only on the poly, but to train five anywhere is a big thrill and shows I have a good team behind me,” Campton said.
“I knew I had a good team going there and Toby had a good team going there, they can all go well during the week, but when it gets to race day anything can happen, I was lucky all the boys rode them a treat and they stuck their head out at the right time.
“It gives you the confidence because some of these horses have come from the likes of Peter Moody and Ciaron Maher.
“It takes a bit of time and patience and a change of scenery has probably been the best thing for them.”
It also marked a massive day out for his apprentice Jace McMurray, who rode three straight winners on the day for Campton.
While he has notched up 54 winners in total this season, only one has been at metropolitan level and Campton is under no illusions as to the challenges that lie ahead if he is to crack it in town.
Having formerly worked for the Hong Kong Jockey Club, Campton has strong connections in the city and says he is set to lose a number of his horses to trainers there over the coming months.
“To do it in my second full season, it is something I am really proud of,” Campton said.
The Adam Campton-trained Living Free cruises home to win at the Gold Coast on Saturday. Picture: Trackside Photography
“I want to show people that we can train young horses to come up through the ranks, not just have tried horses from here there and everywhere.
“I only send them to the city if I think we can take on the likes of (Tony) Gollan and (Rob) Heathcote because it is so tough to win in town.
“It really is a huge effort, my vet, my farriers, my physios, staff, everyone that is involved and I can never ever say it is about me because there are people who are down there at the stables every morning at 3:15am cleaning out water buckets and mucking out boxes.
“We will send a few horses to Hong Kong, I know they are leaving us, but it is part of our job here for the owners and we are proud to help them out.”
Reprint, written by Trenton Akers of www.racenet.com.au
Original was published 28th July 2024