Andrew Campbell couldn’t have scripted a better ending to his 25-year training career.
In his last start at Cambridge on Thursday, stable favourite Tannahill (NZ) (Star Witness) won the Garrard’s Horse & Hound 1550, giving Campbell the perfect send-off.
While Campbell has had many highlights over the years, including several Group One victories, he labelled Thursday’s win as the pinnacle of his career.
“It’s probably my best win ever. I have won a few good races but that is probably the highlight of my career,” Campbell said.
“That horse is like the family pet, everybody loves him, and he is just a beautiful horse. To win my final race with him was amazing.”
Campbell has sold his property next to the Cambridge Jockey Club and will transfer his team to local trainers and good friends Craig and Shaun Phelan before moving back to his home region of Wairarapa.
“He is going to Shaun Phelan’s, he is a great mate. He is going to do all the training for us now,” Campbell said.
“My place has been sold, Stephen Marsh has bought that so that is all done and dusted now and it’s a case of trying to get a place down in the Wairarapa, which is going to be hard.
“I am really looking forward to it. We have had a great time in Cambridge but all the family is down there so we are moving back.”
Reflecting on his career, Campbell said there have been many highlights but none moreso than developing friendships with his close group of owners, headed by Real Estate magnate Tommy Heptinstall.
“There have been so many highlights – the Group Ones were a standout and going over to Aussie and winning races over there was fantastic.
“But meeting so many good people has been the biggest highlight. The owners that I have had have been so amazing to me, they are like family. To have them with me for the last 15 years of my career has been great.
“Without Tommy I would have given up years ago. I can’t say enough good words about him, he is such a great man.”
Campbell said he will take the next few months to relax and settle back into his new life in the Wairarapa before contemplating his future.
“I am going to get back into fishing and there are a couple of things up my sleeve I plan on doing. I will just sit back and relax a little bit for a couple of months,” Campbell said.
