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<\/a><\/p>\n\u201cFrom the first five to go today, there were three clear rounds, so I thought there would be a lot more,\u201d the happy winner said about today\u2019s first-round track. \u201cBut then, in the end, we were only seven, so it proved to be quite a difficult, careful course. I think Javier Trenor builds fantastic: Any time you jump his courses, you never have to worry that the courses are too unjumpable, but he always gets a good amount of clears and faults on every fence \u2013 so all credit to him.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cIt proved to be a bit all around, but the line in the middle across the arena was a lot more difficult than it looked,\u201d Sampson said when asked what he thought was the most challenging part of the first round. \u201cAlso, the combination maybe wasn\u2019t the biggest part of the course, but it rode very careful. The last line to the final fence was a bit of a forward six and then a steady five to a square oxer \u2013 so the challenges were all around, really.\u201d<\/p>\n
Having produced Geneve R to top level himself, Sampson knows his horse well \u2013 and used that knowledge to win. \u201cI know he has got a really big stride, but he is probably not so fast naturally \u2013 so I just tried to use his stride to his advantage and hoped that it would put some pressure on the faster horses, maybe causing them to make a mistake,\u201d he explained about his tactic for the jump-off. \u201cLuckily, it paid off, so it was good.\u201d<\/p>\n
According to Sampson, Geneve R is the king of the yard at home. \u201cHe is just a great horse,\u201d Sampson said affectionately. \u201cHe is a 10-year-old by Eldorado. I bought him when he was seven, from England where he was produced until then. I have produced him myself since and this year, he has stepped onto the bigger level. He is a big character, he plays around a lot. He is unbelievably careful and wants to win.\u201d<\/p>\n
Gevene R did his first five-star Grand Prix this year at Spruce Meadows, where the pair was placed. Today\u2019s win was extra special for Sampson, given their years together. \u201cI have got big plans for him for next year,\u201d Sampson said. \u201cWe have been second and third a few times, and have been beaten by the faster combinations, but today it all paid off \u2013 which feels great.\u201d<\/p>\n