The Fitzpatrick family always believed Pay Me Sam had potential. Photo by Club Menangle
FROM the first time they laid their hands on him, Paul and Gavin Fitzpatrick knew that Pay Me Sam was the makings of a talented pacer.
His first run as a two-year-old pleased them when he ran second at Menangle.
Yet for the next 16 months he was only lightly-raced, facing the starter just seven times.
As a four-year-old, Pay Me Sam was set for the 2017 Eugowra Canola Cup as his owner Rod Smith was keen to win the feature, which he also sponsored.
He won his qualifying heat and was only narrowly beaten in the final, which was won by the Eugowra ‘local’ Im With Lexy.
Since then, the son of Pay Me Christian has gone on to prove that Paul and Gavin were right in their assessment of the entire as he has won 10 races, the latest last Saturday night at Tabcorp Park Menangle.
“Sam was really good in winning last week,” said Gavin.
“He put the writing on the wall the previous week when he ran a bottler, finishing fifth behind King of Swing.
“So, we went into Saturday night’s race confident that he would run well.
“This fellow has had his fair share of foot and leg problems in the past but we have persevered with him because we have always known how much ability he has and he certainly showed it the other night.
“We are giving him a week off, but he will be back at Menangle on December 12.”
Tonight, the Fitzpatricks head to Penrith with five runners and Gavin will drive two of them.
“I am driving Dee Double You in Race 4, but he has drawn awkwardly in gate seven.
“Sometimes they go fast in the better-class races over the middle distance at Penrith and that is what I will be hoping for.
“He has a stack of ability and has been dogged with leg injuries.
“If he stays sound, I feel he could be competitive in metropolitan racing.”
“My other drive is aboard Spirit King (Race 7).
“He has drawn gate 10 over the 1720-metre trip so he has it all to do from there.
“He does have a really good turn of foot so hopefully they will go hard enough for him to be able to get home over the top of them.”
