Deon Sampson and Trip Tease set the Hampton alight with a smart win (JC Photos)
After action, satisfaction. That probably best sums up trainer Louis Goosen’s short-term mission accomplished at the Vaal on Saturday after the sensational Trippi flyer Trip Tease blew his opposition away for a facile win in the R150 000 Listed Hampton Handicap.
There is little doubt that Trip Tease rates right at the top of the class on the sand 1000m and there aren’t too many horses we could think of that could go with him.
Sure, the year younger Precursor ran the Sophomore 1000 in 0,18 secs faster earlier on but Trip Tease carried 2,5kgs more and was never pressed for an effort by Deon Sampson.
With his behavioural issues now well behind him, the sky is the limit for the bargain buy gelding, who many said would never see a racecourse when Frank Soru and Louis Goosen signed for him at just R70 000 at the 2012 Emperors Palace National 2yo Sale.
Despite Goosen’s nod of confidence during the week after excellent trackwork, Trip Tease was allowed to ease to 7 to 2 on Saturday on support for his recent conqueror Blazing Al into 16 to 10. But when the gates opened Sampson looked in complete control and the Goosen galloper set the record straight after an unlikely defeat last time.
Trip Tease simply toyed with his field as he catapulted clear to win by a length (the winning margin frankly flattered the opposition) to beat Blazing Al in a time of 58,24 secs.
The consistent Salute The Sun was a further 3,50 lengths away in third, with Sugar And Shake running an improved race to hold Hang Fire in fourth.
Trip Tease now boasts an impressive record of 7 wins with 2 seconds and 2 thirds from his 11 career outings, with his stake earnings at R629 575.
His sand record is impeccable – 6 runs for 5 wins and 1 second.
Trip Tease was bred by Zandvliet Stud and is a son of Drakenstein stallion Trippi (USA) out of the twice winning Complete Warrior mare, Girlish.
The rest were well beaten with Benbow reportedly making a respiratory noise and topweight Jade Bay returning lame.
