journey in search of that elusive buckle or the grail itself, the Gold Cup. That’s if we can manage the time, cost and risk factors that such a journey entails. Four thousand, five hundred kilometres one way with a horse or two in tow will test your management skills, your bank balance and your mental health. The answer to the “what could go wrong?” question is, well, everything. After that you have to drive home again! A strong contingent of Queenslanders made the trip to WA in 2014. There were a few horses in that bunch that had every chance of winning the ride. One team that made the journey was the Sample Endurance Stables. If by chance you have ever heard anything about endurance before, you will probably find the Sample name more than slightly familiar. Patriarch Bob Sample has his name on the cup, as do his sons Brook and Matthew. There is no shortage of experience at the Sample Stables, be it human or equine, and one horse on the truck to WA had experience oozing out of every pore.
Quilty Heroes September 2007. The eastern states of Australia are under a dark cloud of the equine influenza outbreak. The subsequent lock down and movement restrictions make it impossible for many to travel to Collie in Western Australia for the running of the Tom Quilty Gold Cup. Nevertheless, the Quilty went ahead as scheduled. To say this caused some heated discussions around campfires would be an understatement. Thankfully no such drama would befall the next WA instalment of the Tom Quilty in 2014. Touch wood. Again, uncertainty surrounded the West
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Q U I LT Y HEROES
Anglo Arabian gelding Tarrangower Crecendo (Arabian Park Saiyid x Minkott Crystal Belle) is an old hand at this endurance riding caper and his ride record is quite amazing. His Tom Quilty record on its own is quite incredible. He’s no spring chicken either. At 18 years old he has racked up in Quiltys alone a first Heavyweight, third Middleweight twice and two wins with a few different riders along the way. At the 2013 Queensland Tom Quilty in Kilkivan with Akhmed Pshunov aboard, Crecendo rode stride for stride with Brook Sample on his mighty steed Brookleigh Excalibur until the last 200 metres only to be pipped near the post in a thrilling gallop finish. That is unfortunate enough on its own when you have given your all for nine or so hours without the added disappointment of narrowly failing the last vet check and going home empty handed. By Gerard Bou
Australian Quilty with Hendra vaccinations and bio security requirements, the subject of a drawnout negotiation with those from affected states. Thankfully a suitable protocol was established and all competitors from around Australia were able to attend. Although attendance at a Tom Quilty in WA is no easy task if you live closer to the Pacific than the Indian Ocean. Most of us that own and work horses go on the odd trip here or there. We hook up the float and travel to competitions or to that good riding spot for a pleasant day or a weekend away. We endurance riders are pretty used to travelling for competitions. As the Tom Quilty is in a different state each year, we are prepared to make a long
Set to ride Crecendo in 2014 was Jessica Langridge. Jess has been riding since a child but is, in the greater scheme of things, a relative newcomer to the sport of endurance. After returning from some time overseas working with horses, she gained employment with Brook Sample training endurance horses. There she met Matthew Sample and the pair must have hit it off reasonably well. Some time and an engagement ring later, Jess was training the Sample Stable’s horses and heading toward a new chapter in Quilty history. Jess had put the hours into training Crecendo and knew all too well that he was more than a slight chance in Wagin. As I spoke to Jess she used the word champion a lot when referring to him. A champion he is indeed. For those uninitiated with a ride start at a Tom Quilty it can be a nervous time. The Quilty has a life of its own. A luminous radiating aura surrounds