Sam Mynott was recognised for her early achievements as a licensed trainer at the New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing Awards on Sunday, receiving the gavelhouse.com Newcomer To Training award.
Mynott has previously excelled in Eventing, winning National titles at Junior and 2* level domestically while also plying her trade in the United Kingdom on two separate occasions.
Initially entering the racing world through trackwork riding, she established a successful breaking in and pre-training business in Te Awamutu before a move to Cambridge produced a further opportunity to take out a Class A trainer’s license.
Mynott’s first victory came with Mr Oh Jay in January of 2023, and in her first full season in the role last term, she collected 10 wins from 72 starters, highlighted by the success of her talented sprinting mare Imwonderfultonight.
If preparing her own successful team of horses wasn’t enough, Mynott also picked up a win as a jumps jockey last August aboard Mondorani.
“It’s great to win this award and it is such a true testament to the owners and supporters around me to be able to take this out,” she said.
“All of the trainers up here have been very supportive of me and offered to help, which has been great when you’re a bit new to it all.
“I think I’m the first person to ask questions and hear everyone’s opinion, you have to take pieces of that on board and make your own way forward.
“Wonderful was definitely our flagbearer, but every horse that went out and got the win or a nice placing all performed really well.”
The daughter of I Am Invincible progressed rapidly from a Rating 65 in October to a string of stakes-level performances, including second in the Listed Stewards Stakes (1200m), fourth in the Gr.1 Telegraph (1200m), third in the Gr.3 Concorde Handicap (1200m) and third in the Listed Lightning Handicap (1200m).
Her consistency was rewarded when coming out on top in her final New Zealand start for the season, the Listed City Of Napier Sprint (1200m) at Otaki, which Mynott pinpointed as a standout moment for the stable.
“The Listed win at Otaki with her was definitely the highlight, but it was great seeing my little Verismo winning a $40,000 race back in December as well,” she said.
Imwonderfultonight is an Australian-bred mare owned by Windsor Park Stud, who have been among a loyal network of owners supporting the young trainer.
“It’s brilliant having them and Ben Kwok as well, they’ve kept horses in my stable and it’s just a massive asset having that relationship and I’m extremely grateful, and to all the rest of my owners as well,” she said.
Mynott’s sole representative so far this season, Heart Of Gold, returned a winner in the $100,000 2000m feature at Cambridge Synthetic last month, with plenty of talent still to make their return in a new campaign.
“We were at Ellerslie today (Tuesday) with some nice horses that won races last season, including A Mandarin, Verismo, Persiflage and Aquilifier,” she said.
“They’ve all come back in this prep a lot stronger than last time which is brilliant, we’re really looking forward to kicking them all off.”
